Snap Canadian election looks likely

OTTAWA, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken steps in Ottawa strongly suggesting there will be a snap federal election by the middle of October.

While the leader of the minority Conservative government has expressed unhappiness with the three opposition parties' repeated threats of non-confidence votes in recent weeks, Harper made a rare move Tuesday involving Governor General of Canada Michaelle Jean Tuesday, the Globe and Mail reported.

Jean was to leave Sept. 5 for the Paralympic Games in Beijing but Harper asked her not to leave the country. That will allow Harper to ask Jean to dissolve Parliament so Harper can call an election as early as Oct. 14, the newspaper said.

In Toronto, Liberal Opposition Leader Stephane Dion told reporters Harper is panicking, the Toronto Star reported.

"It's clear he's trying to create any reason to rush to an election to hide how much he is ill-prepared to face the difficulties of the country. This prime minister is panicking, inventing reasons to try and trigger an election and breaking his word ..." Dion said.