OTTAWA -- Sources tell The Canadian Press that Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe will meet with Stephen Harper on Friday amid rampant speculation the prime minister is about to call an election.
NDP Leader Jack Layton is meeting with Harper on Saturday, leaving the Liberals' Stephane Dion as the only opposition leader who has not answered Harper's call.
The prime minister has sought meetings with all three opposition leaders to see whether they can agree on an agenda for the fall session of Parliament, scheduled to begin Sept. 15.
Few expect the meetings to resolve anything.
Duceppe has promised to bring a confidence motion against the Conservative minority at the earliest opportunity should Parliament resume as scheduled on Sept. 15.
A government source says Duceppe and the other opposition parties will not be allowed to "take Parliament hostage."
Duceppe initially said he wouldn't be available until Sept. 5 and Dion has indicated he'll be too busy to meet before Sept. 9.
Speculation is rife that Harper will call a mid-October general election before byelections are held in three federal ridings Sept. 8.
Harper has argued that all three opposition parties are poised to topple the government shortly after Parliament returns, and he says he has a duty to jump before he's pushed.
