Related: Canada's opposition parties press for early election

    

New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton speaks during a news conference in Ottawa November 13, 2005.  (Xinhua/Reuters)

OTTAWA, Nov. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Canada's minority Liberal government on Sunday rejected the opposition parties' demand for an early election.

    "We do not want to drag Canadians to the polls during the Christmas holiday season," said Liberal House leader Tony Valeri at a news conference in Toronto.

    Noting that about six in 10 Canadians are opposed to a holiday-period election, Valeri stressed that Prime Minister Paul Martin had previously committed to calling an election 30 days within the release of the final report into the sponsorship scandal.

    Agreeing to the opposition's demand would violate Martin's earlier commitment to Canadians, Valeri said.

    Earlier on Sunday, leaders of the Conservatives, the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Bloc Quebecois agreed at a closed-door meeting to force the minority government to call an early election or to face a non-confidence motion that could bringit down.

    "We agreed to support an NDP motion that will be moved at the earliest possible opportunity calling on the government to call anelection the first week of January, 2006," Conservative leader Stephen Harper told reporters after the meeting.

    "Should the government refuse to debate this motion or refuse to abide by the motion ... I will move a motion of non-confidence in the government the following week," Harper said.

    

Conservative leader Stephen Harper listens to a question during a news conference in Ottawa November 13, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters)

If that timetable is followed, a vote would take place in mid-February.

    Meanwhile, Prime Minister Martin used his national weekly radio address on Sunday morning to remind Canadians he opposed an early election.

    "I long ago pledged that I would call an election early in the new year. That's only a few months away," he said.

    "So I'm going to leave it to the opposition leaders to explain why they want to force a campaign even earlier -- one that would take place over the holidays, no less."

    All the three opposition parties have been pressuring the Martin government to step down in the wake of a judicial report on the federal sponsorship scandal.

    The initial report released early this month exonerated Martin but criticized his predecessor Jean Chretien over the diversion of more than 100 million Canadian dollars (85 million US dollars) to friendly advertising firms.

    Martin has vowed to hold an election in April once the inquiry presents final recommendations on how to avoid similar misconduct in future.

    The opposition parties are concerned that if an election is delayed until April, public anger over the corruption scandal would have faded. Enditem