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HAMILTON, Ont. — Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he will spend the “next few weeks” contemplating whether to call an election.
Mr. Harper, in Hamilton for a health-care funding announcement, said Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion is balking at toppling the minority Conservatives because he's worried about the polls.
Mr. Harper called that irresponsible, and said recent polls make it clear the next government will likely be another minority, regardless of whether it's formed by the Tories or the Liberals.
He also said it's also clear none of the opposition parties intend to hold out until the fixed election date, which is October 2009.
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Mr. Harper said he will spend the next few weeks analyzing the situation and determining whether the Tories can have a productive fall session of Parliament.
The prime minister is currently on a three-day visit to Ontario, which is shaping up as a key battleground in any upcoming federal campaign.
Mr. Harper struck the same theme Monday when he taunted Dion, by saying the Liberal Leader was running away from voters.
The Prime Minister used a pre-election Conservative rally in Mississauga, Ont., to ridicule Mr. Dion for repeatedly backing away from threats to bring down his government.
"The next election has not been scheduled until October of 2009 and — who knows? — Mr. Dion may wish to wait longer than that," Mr. Harper said at a barbecue to kick off a two-day swing through Southern Ontario.
"I have to say this has really become quite a soap opera."
