Harper to ask voters for a majority

After years of saying he’ll take whatever mandate voters give him, the prime minister appears set for a bold change in strategy.

With opinion polls showing that the Liberals are within striking distance of the Conservatives, analysts are saying that Stephen Harper is gambling on his political future and intends to start pushing for a majority government. After years of avoiding using the word “majority,” recent speeches indicate Harper seems intent on framing the next election as a choice between a majority Conservative government or a coalition of Liberals, the NDP, and Quebec separatists. The strategy could work if he can convince Canadians that a vote for the Liberals is also a vote for the Bloc Quebecois, but in recent years voters have been wary of a strong Conservative government, which the Liberals say would use a majority to pursue a “hidden agenda.”