Canadian leader Harper to dissolve Parliament

September 6, 2008

TORONTO Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to dissolve Parliament tomorrow and call early elections in hopes of strengthening his minority government's hold on power. Harper's Conservatives need to win an additional 28 seats to have a majority in Parliament, and although he has played down that possibility, polls in recent days indicate the right-of-center party has a chance to do so. Dimitri Soudas, a spokesman for the prime minister, announced Harper's plans yesterday, saying voting would be held Oct. 14. It will be Canada's third national ballot in four years. The Conservatives unseated the Liberal Party in 2006 after nearly 13 years in power, but as a minority government the Conservatives have had a tenuous hold on power, forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets.