Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean not to attend the Paralympic Games in Beijing, in a move further suggesting Harper will pull the plug on his current minority government and trigger a federal election.

The Prime Minister's Office announced late Tuesday that Ontario Lt.-Gov. David Onley will represent Canada in Jean's place at the Games, which open on Sept. 6. The decision allows Jean, who was to depart on Sept. 5, to remain in Ottawa, in case Harper asks her to dissolve Parliament.

The prime minister said he is continuing to consider whether an election needs to be called, a decision he has said he expects to make in the next few weeks. Senior Conservatives have suggested Harper could pull the plug on his government as early as Sept. 2.

"The country must have a government that can function during a time of economic uncertainty," Harper said Tuesday in Ottawa.

The prime minister said he is not willing to wait for Sept. 9, the day Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion has suggested he could meet with Harper to discuss the issue of whether Parliament can continue as is.

The meeting would occur a day after three federal byelections in Quebec and Ontario; a fourth byelection is slated to take place in Ontario on Sept. 22.

PM creating a 'prefabricated emergency': Dion

The move to keep Jean in Ottawa comes shortly after Harper said he wouldn't be breaking his promise to Canadians if he calls an election this fall, a year ahead of the fixed date set by his own government.

Harper said the goal of the fixed election date — the next one being Oct. 19, 2009 — is to provide Canadians with some sense of certainty. But he said fixed election dates do not apply to minority governments.

"We are clear," Harper said at a press conference at the national archives. "You can only have certainty about a fixed election date in the context of a majority government.

"Look, if any of the opposition parties wanted to provide some, any degree of certainty that we'll be here to October 2009, then we'll have an election in October 2009."

The statement drew the ire of Dion, who was quick to accuse the prime minister of creating a "prefabricated emergency" so that he can rush to the polls at a time that is best for his own party.

"This prime minister is panicking, inventing reasons to call an election and break his word," Dion said.

The NDP and Bloc Québécois have indicated they want an election called.