No plans for election, Harper says

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said Thursday that despite threats from opposition leaders to force an election, he has no plans to go to the polls.

"I gotta say I really like this job. I want to keep it a while. I want to get some things done,"Harper said at a news conference Thursdayat Parliament Hill.

"I have no reason to call an election. The public's notasking for an election. I don't know what the reason for an election would be."

Harper said Stéphane Dion has made it clear, however, that a vote is what he wants, adding that his "first words as Liberal leader were, 'have an election.'" Earlier in the day, Dion said he's told his party to get ready for an election campaign that could begin as early as February.

The prime minister said his party would be ready if the opposition topples his minority government.

Earlier this week, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe threatened to table a no-confidence motion to try and bring down the governmentif the mission in Afghanistan isn't rapidly and profoundly altered.Duceppe wants the government to focus more onreconstruction and less on combat.

Accuses Duceppe of other motives

But Harperaccused Duceppe of using Afghanistan as an excuse, insisting thatDion actually wants to force an election before the Toriestable a budget to deal with the fiscal imbalance.

He said Duceppehas come to realize that the longer the Conservatives are in office, Quebecers willsee that federalism works.

"IfMr. Duceppe wants to say, 'let's have an election before the federal government gets to table a budgeton the fiscalimbalance,' say it. But don't play agame on the backs of Canada's soldiers who are puttingtheir lives at risk for us, for the international communityand for the Afghan people."

As for rumours about an imminent cabinet shuffle, Harper said, "that's not on my agenda for today."

When asked about the government's upcoming moves, he joked, "I'll address future questions in the future."