OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called three federal by-elections for Sept. 8, setting the stage for a possible general election later this fall.
Two vacant Quebec ridings, Westmount-Ville Marie in Montreal and nearby Saint Lambert, along with the southwestern Ontario riding of Guelph are up for grabs.
The Liberals held Westmount and Guelph, and the Bloc Quebecois first won the long-time federalist riding of Saint Lambert in 2004.
Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion, whose party holds the balance of power in the minority parliament, said this week he now believes Canadians are ready for a fall election.
The Liberals have abstained from bringing down the Conservative government during multiple confidence votes over the past year.
Party insiders predict the outcome of the newly announced by-elections could either embolden the Liberals or deter them from making good on Mr. Dion's autumn election musings.
