Stephen Harper muses about forcing an election

A recent poll shows Conservatives in Canada hold a 43% lead in popularity.

In response Prime Minister Stephen Harper, the leader of a minority government, has begun openly talking about engineering his own defeat and forcing a general election this fall, and is taking aim at the Liberal party's carbon tax policy today.

Earlier yesterday, after a funding announcement in eastern Newfoundland, Harper openly mused about the possibility of engineering the defeat of his own government and triggering an election.

His comments in New Brunswick make it clear that attacking the Liberal carbon tax policy would be a key weapon in the Conservative campaign.

"We are going to make sure that Atlantic Canadians are not tricked into voting for a carbon tax that would damage the [the coal industry in the] region," Harper said.

The Liberals say Harper is misrepresenting their key policy, stressing that the carbon tax will be largely offset by income and business-tax breaks, which the Conservatives keep failing to mention.

The Liberal plan would also offer future tax benefits to the poor, elderly and rural communities.