A federal by-election is still to come in Prince George-Peace River in the new year, among three in Canada that must be called before May, but no time has been set.
With talk of a spring general election rising in Ottawa recently, however, there is also a question of whether the by-elections will be needed at all.
But Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris dismisses the notion there will be a spring election as "Ottawa media speculation." Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has said he will oppose a budget that has corporate tax cuts.
If the other Opposition parties support the Liberals, it could result in a non-confidence vote that would topple the minority Conservative government.
Harris said he puts little stock in Ignatieff's pronouncements, arguing he often changes tack soon afterwards.
Harris also pointed to the fact that Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made it clear he is not interested in calling an election. According to fixed federal-election dates, passed by Harper's government, the next mandatory call to the polls is in 2012.
"We're going to govern, bring in a conservative budget that's appropriate now that we are working our way out of a recession," Harris said Tuesday.
Harris, a backbencher in Harper's government, said he had no knowledge of when a by-election might be called in Prince George-Peace River, made vacant when long-time Conservative MP Jay Hill stepped down at the end of October.
"I don't expect it will be strung out forever. I'd guess it will take place sooner rather than later in the new year," said Harris.
There has been a significant amount of interest in the Prince George-Peace River riding for the Conservative position. The riding has been won by a conservative party candidate in 14 consecutive elections stretching back to 1972.
Political scientist Norman Ruff notes that the outcome of the by-election is a given, it's just a matter of when the election is set.
To date, six candidates have put their name in for the Conservative nomination.
They include former-Prince George mayor Colin Kinsley and Prince George city councillor Cameron Stolz. Also in the running are Bob Zimmer, Dan Davies, Don Irwin, all from Fort St. John; and Jerrilyn Schembri, who is from Tumbler Ridge.
Ruff, a professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, said he hadn't believed a spring federal election was in the cards, but the possibility has increased more recently in his estimation.
Ignatieff has not been able to get traction with the public, but may be pushing for an election to settle the issue, observed Ruff.
Year-end polls have put Conservatives, with support in the mid-30-per-cent range, at a seven or eight point lead over the Liberals. A recent poll also shows that voters put more trust in Harper on the economy than Ignatieff.
Ruff noted the federal election question will have to be settled early as there are a slate of provincial elections lined up beginning in the fall. There will be no appetite to call a federal election in the midst of provincial elections, he said.
