Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said the next federal election will likely result in another minority government.
He made the comment Tuesday during a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.
"The possibility of a minority government in any election, including one in the near future, would loom very high,'' he said.
The Council is a well-regarded foreign policy group that has existed since 1921, and often holds meetings with foreign leaders.
Harper needs the support of at least one opposition party when Parliament votes on the government's throne speech next month. Otherwise, Canadians will head to the polls for a fall election.
This week, sources confirmed to the Toronto Star that an election could be called three days after the speech on Oct. 16.
Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has said he will wait until after the speech before deciding whether to vote down the government, while Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe wants a firm commitment to end Canada's combat operations in Afghanistan by February 2009.
NDP President Anne McGrath said her party "will look at the speech carefully," but isn't anxious to have an election.
"I think, though, that what the Liberals decide to do will be very important," she told CTV's Mike Duffy Live.
She added that "the Liberals and the Bloc have consistently voted with the government on all confidence motions."
Harper told the Council he is confident an election will not affect his party's foreign policy decisions.
"If I can make my case to the Canadian people, I can pursue an aggressive or well-defined foreign policy," he told the Council.
"This is one area where you do what is right in the long term interests of your country, your allies and the world.
"Canada will support a government that conducts foreign policy in that manner. Under a minority government, this government's foreign policy will not be any different as it would be under a majority government."
The Star reported that the Conservatives have already reserved two campaign buses currently in use by Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory -- who is already campaigning ahead of the Oct. 10 provincial election.
Two more Greyhound buses are also being prepared and "wrapped" with party logos and large photos of Harper, according to the newspaper.
"This is a minority government -- that's the reality in which we're operating," Conservative strategist Yaroslav Baran told Mike Duffy Live.
"Our party is going to be ready for an election whenever that may come. We were ready last spring, we were ready a year ago and we're ready now."
Harper critical of U.S. policy
During his address to the Council on Tuesday, Harper also said he disagreed with several foreign policy decisions made by the White House administration, including a move to block a free-trade deal with Colombia.
"In my view, Colombia needs its democratic friends to lean forward and give them the chance at partnership and trade with North America," said Harper. "I am very concerned that some in the United States seem unwilling to do that. What message does that send to those who want to share in freedom and prosperity?"
He also touched on heightened security measures at the Canada-U.S. border that will require mandatory passports for travellers, calling the plan neither "well thought out or practical."
Harper appeared relaxed and calm in front of the Council audience, but was caught off guard when someone asked why Canada isn't hated around the world like the U.S.
"Um, well. I'm trying to think of how to answer that one,'' he replied to loud laughter.
"The American administration, to be frank, is more widely unpopular than the United States itself. But that's ultimately an issue of American domestic policy."
He added that Canada has "no history anywhere in the world of conquest or domination," so it's difficult to picture Canada being in the same situation.
With files from The Canadian Press
