Canada PM seeks Conservative majority, early election

Canada’s prime minister dissolved Parliament on Sunday and called an early election next month in hopes of strengthening his Conservative minority government’s hold on power.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s party needs to win an additional 28 seats to have a majority in Parliament. Although he has played down that possibility, polls in recent days indicate his right wing party has a chance to do so.

The Oct. 14 election will be Canada’s third ballot in four years.

The Conservatives unseated the Liberal Party in 2006 after nearly 13 years in power, but as a minority government the Conservatives have been forced to rely on opposition lawmakers to pass legislation and adopt budgets.

-From Associated Press reports