Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion believes Prime Minister Stephen Harper could be dissuaded from calling a federal election in the next few weeks.

During a stop in Saskatoon on Sunday, Dion told reporters that Harper should realize Canadians will see an election call as irresponsible in light of pending byelections across the country.

Senior Conservatives suggested last week Harper could pull the plug on his minority government as early as Sept. 2.

"This is an invention by Mr. Harper to try to trigger an election before he loses the byelections," said Dion.

'One thing is sure. The Parliament is working. The Parliament is not dysfunctional.'—Stéphane Dion, Liberal leader

He said Harper could be convinced not to call an election once he realizes Canadians see the move as dishonest and irresponsible.

"A few days ago, he just called a fourth byelection in Don Valley West. It's taxpayers' money.

"This is full improvisation, and it shows panic from the prime minister."

Dion spoke before a crowd of about 200 people in Saskatoon about his Green Shift plan to battle climate change. The town hall meeting is one of many he has planned across the country.

There was no talk about a possible federal election until Dion was met outside by reporters.

Dion repeated his earlier claims that Harper wants to bypass parliamentary committee hearings into Tory scandals and distract Canadians from a weakening economy.

He also said Harper would be breaking his promise of fixed election dates every four years.

Harper has blamed opposition parties in recent days for paralyzing Parliament. But Dion said the minority government is working just fine.

"One thing is sure," said Dion. "The Parliament is working. The Parliament is not dysfunctional."

Yet Dion said he is ready for a federal election, and the public is definitely more prepared now than it was this time last year when most voters were focused on provincial elections in Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan.

The presidential election in the United States this fall would not overshadow an election at the same time here at home, said Dion.

"Canadians will certainly give a lot of interest to their own federal politics," he said. "I don't think this is a major consideration."

Dion said he has a "personal preference" for president but would not disclose if his choice is Democrat Barack Obama or Republican John McCain.

"As prime minister, if Canadians give me this mandate, I will work with the president the people of the United States will choose."

Duceppe says Harper is bad for Quebec

Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe is threatening to table a no-confidence motion when Parliament resumes, if Harper continues with his party's "right-wing" agenda.

Duceppe told a Bloc youth wing forum gathered outside Quebec City last weekend that a majority Conservative government is a menace to Quebec.

The Bloc leader listed several Tory policies he says have harmed Quebec's interests, including cuts to arts and culture funding and the rejection of the Kyoto Accord on greenhouse gases.

"Our American friends are getting ready to turn the page on the Bush administration," Duceppe told the forum gathered in Lévis on Sunday.

"Those ideological right wingers who are leaving behind economic devastation, and blood and destruction around the world. We here are confronted with the same gang," he said in French.

"Quebec isn't George Bush's United States. We want to and will remain Quebecers."

With files with the Canadian Press