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Unidentified senior party sources told CTV News Harper could ask the governor general to dissolve Parliament and declare an election as soon as Sept. 5, which under constitutional law requires a minimum 37 days notice. That would mean polls could open as soon as Oct. 14 and would also nullify four federal by-elections for vacant seats scheduled in September in Ontario and Quebec, the report said.

The leader of the socialist New Democratic Party, Jack Layton, told the broadcaster the timing would put Canadians to the polls before the U.S. election in November. He said he felt Harper was concerned about the effect of a possible Democratic victory by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill.

"There's something coordinated about all of this", Layton said to CTV News. "I think it's a charade. Harper's up to no good here."

In recent weeks, Harper has called Parliament "dysfunctional" and said he's tired of repeated, but non-materialized, threats of a non-confidence motion by opposition Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois members.

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