Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that despite threats from opposition leaders to force an election, he has no plans to go to the polls.
"I gotta say I really like this job. I want to keep it a while. I want to get some things done," Harper said at a news conference Thursday at Parliament Hill.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper responds to reporters' questions at a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Thursday.
(Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)
"I have no reason to call an election. The public's not asking for an election. I don't know what the reason for an election would be."
Harper said Stéphane Dion has made it clear, however, that a vote is what he wants, adding that his "first words as Liberal leader were, 'have an election.'" Earlier in the day, Dion said he's told his party to get ready for an election campaign that could begin as early as February.
The prime minister said his party would be ready if the opposition topples his minority government.
Earlier this week, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe threatened to table a no-confidence motion to try and bring down the government if the mission in Afghanistan isn't rapidly and profoundly altered. Duceppe wants the government to focus more on reconstruction and less on combat.
Accuses Duceppe of other motives
But Harper accused Duceppe of using Afghanistan as an excuse, insisting that Dion actually wants to force an election before the Tories table a budget to deal with the fiscal imbalance.
He said Duceppe has come to realize that the longer the Conservatives are in office, Quebecers will see that federalism works.
"If Mr. Duceppe wants to say, 'let's have an election before the federal government gets to table a budget on the fiscal imbalance,' say it. But don't play a game on the backs of Canada's soldiers who are putting their lives at risk for us, for the international community and for the Afghan people."
As for rumours about an imminent cabinet shuffle, Harper said, "that's not on my agenda for today."
When asked about the government's upcoming moves, he joked, "I'll address future questions in the future."
