[LINK] "Harper calls a 4th federal byelection, sets stage for possible fall general election"

[rfmcdonald]

The title of this CBC news report on the import of a new byelection in the Toronto's federal riding of Don Valley West is, as it itself notes, likely overheated.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called a fourth federal byelection for Sept. 22 in the Toronto riding of Don Valley West, setting the stage for a possible general election later this fall.

Voting in three other federal ridings for Sept. 8 was already announced last month by Harper. They include the Ontario riding of Guelph, and Saint-Lambert and Westmount-Ville-Marie in Quebec.

The Don Valley West riding had been held by long-serving Liberal John Godfrey, who signalled his intention to resign the seat some time ago but didn't make it official until Aug. 1.

The Liberals also took Westmount-Ville-Marie and Guelph in 2006 and the Bloc Québécois won the longtime federalist riding of Saint-Lambert in 2004.

There has been speculation that Harper could be gearing up for a general election later in the fall — a possibility that Conservative sources say is still in play.

"This doesn't rule anything out or in," said one senior Tory. "I don't think it changes anything."

[. . .]

Last week during a Newfoundland and Labrador visit, Harper stoked the campaign fires, complaining that the current House of Commons had become "dysfunctional" and warning that he would "have to make a judgment in the next little while as to whether or not this Parliament can function productively."

The remark was widely interpreted as a hint that Harper, rather than awaiting eventual defeat at the hands of opposition forces, could seize the initiative by going to the Governor General and demanding an election.

[. . .]

Current standings in the 308-seat House of Commons are: Conservative 127, Liberal 95, Bloc Québécois 48, NDP 30, Independent 4, vacant 4.

Likely overheated, to be more precise.