Harper calls snap election

2008-09-07 17:39

Toronto - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper dissolved Parliament on Sunday and called an early election for next month, kicking off an election campaign he hopes will strengthen his minority right-of-centre government.

Harper visited Governor General Michaelle Jean on Sunday morning and asked her to dissolve Parliament and set an October 14 election date.

The governor general is the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, who is Canada's head of state, but Jean holds a purely ceremonial position and follows the wishes of the prime minister.

"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 after the meeting.

In 2006, the Conservatives unseated the Liberal Party which had held power for nearly 13 years.

But Harper's fragile minority government has been forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets.

Analysts believe the Conservatives have a better shot at winning an early election, rather than waiting until being forced into an election by the opposition with a no-confidence vote in Parliament at a time when the Canadian economy might be worse off given its close links to the faltering US economy.

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

But Robert Bothwell, director of the international relations programme at the University of Toronto, argued the move was purely political.

"Harper is going for a majority government. That's really the only issue," he said.

Observers say Harper also wanted a ballot ahead of the US election on November 4, which could put Democrat Barack Obama in the White House and encourage Canadians to choose a more liberal government.

- AP