Harper may call for polls on October 14

Ottawa: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will as expected this week ask for a dissolution of Parliament and call an election for October 14, the Canadian Press quoted senior government sources as saying late on Monday.

Hours earlier, Harper failed to persuade the country's main opposition leader to keep his minority Conservative government alive.

Harper aides have already pointed to October 14 as a likely date for what would be Canada's third election in four years.

A spokeswoman for Harper declined to comment on the Canadian Press report, while the prime minister's chief spokesman did not respond to phone and e-mail questions.

Only solution

The breakdown of the talks between Harper and Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion was not a surprise. Harper, who won power in January 2006, has made it clear over the past few weeks he thinks an election is the only way to fix what he sees as a dysfunctional Parliament.

Before an election can be called, Governor General Michaelle Jean, who represents Canada's head of state, Britain's Queen Elizabeth, must agree to a formal request from Harper to dissolve Parliament. Her approval is considered a formality.

Harper and Dion blamed each other after an unproductive 20-minute meeting at Harper's official residence, with both sides insisting the other wanted an election.

Chief Harper spokesman Kory Teneycke said Harper would "have to deliberate over the next few days and make a decision in due course" on an election call.

Opinion polls show the most likely result of an election now would be another minority Conservative government.