Canada Heads for an Early Election

The Canadian parliament is set to be dissolved after the prime minister and opposition leader failed in their a final compromise attempt, reports the Globe and Mail. Stéphane Dion, the leader of the Liberals, told reporters PM Stephen Harper asked his party not to oppose any legislation for a year, a proposal he called "a joke" and "a face-saving exercise." The most likely date for a snap election is Oct. 14.

Harper's decision to call an early election goes against a law he introduced that fixed an election date for next year. The PM has tried to justify the snap poll by claiming his government is hamstrung, but the three opposition parties all claim that Harper is going to the polls now before the economy weakens further. His Conservative Party is also facing several ethics inquiries that could hurt its current popularity.