Canadian leaders busy on election eve

TORONTO, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- Two of Canada's political leaders were scheduled to travel coast to coast Monday, campaigning on the last day before federal elections.

Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Liberal rival Stephane Dion began the day in New Brunswick, and had schedules taking them west to British Columbia by the evening, the Globe and Mail reported.

The socialist New Democratic Party's leader, Jack Layton was staying in southwestern Ontario, where thousands of automotive manufacturing jobs have been lost this year, and separatist Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe was staying in Quebec.

The Toronto Sun quoted a Nanos Research poll showing the Conservatives with 33 percent national support, followed by the Liberals with 27 percent and the NDP with 22 percent.

Harper called the election Sept. 7, a full year before the mandate, saying his minority government was being hobbled by non-confidence threats.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported Harper made an uncharacteristic prediction about the election outcome while campaigning in Quebec Sunday.

"The next government will probably be a minority, Liberal or Conservative," he said.