Canada's prime minister calls early election

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-09-08 10:54

TORONTO -- Canada's prime minister triggered an early election, dissolving Parliament in a bid to bolster his party's grip on power in a vote next month that will be the country's third national ballot in four years.

Conservative leader and Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper acknowledges applause during a campaign rally in Quebec City September 7, 2008. Harper on Sunday called an election for October 14 in a bid to strengthen his hold on power after 2 1/2 years in charge of a minority Conservative party government. [Agencies]

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Sunday he expects the October 14 vote to produce another minority government, but recent polls show the Conservatives could win the majority they need to rule without help from opposition parties.

Analysts said Harper's party has a better shot of winning now than if they had waited until being forced into a vote later when the Canadian economy might be worse off or after Canadians could be influenced by the US presidential election results.

In 2006, the Conservatives unseated the Liberal Party which had held power for nearly 13 years in power, but as a minority government they have been forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets.

Electoral legislation that Harper helped enact after he came to power in 2006 fixed the date for the next election in October 2009. But a loophole allows the prime minister to ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament, which Harper did Sunday after signaling in recent weeks that he was leaning toward an early election.

Harper said he is running on economic issues and has stressed his opposition to an energy tax proposed by the Liberals.

"Between now and October 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble," Harper said on Sunday.

"They will choose between direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness or recklessness."

Liberal leader Stephane Dion acknowledged his party faced an uphill battle in the election campaign.

"I love it. I love to be the underdog. I love being underestimated," said Dion, who many expect will be removed as leader if the Liberals lose the election.

Dion said the election offers a stark choice between his party and the "most Conservative government in our history."

The Liberals have traditionally been the party in power in Canada, forming the government for more than two-thirds of the last 100 years. Analysts say Harper is intent on destroying the Liberal brand and wants to instill conservative values in Canada.

Dion was a part of Canada's Liberal government that opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and turned down Washington's request to send troops. Harper supported the Iraq war when he was in the opposition.

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