Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper met for more than two hours with Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean at her official residence to seek a prorogue, or suspension, of Parliament until Jan. 26, when a new budget will be announced.

Liberal opposition leader Stephane Dion sent a letter to Jean Wednesday asking that she deny the request and allow a coalition government of Liberals, socialist New Democratic Party members and separatist Bloc Quebecois to govern.

In a 5-minute nationally televised address Wednesday night, Harper took swipes at the Bloc Quebecois element of the coalition.

"The opposition is attempting to impose this deal without your say, without your consent and without your vote," Harper said. "This is no time for backroom deals with the separatists."

The Conservatives won a minority government seven weeks ago.

The political battle began Friday when the Conservatives' interim economic forecast was criticized for being too vague in light of the global financial meltdown. It also included cutting federal campaign subsidies and banning civil service strikes, both of which have been retracted.