Be ready for fall election, Harper warns

OTTAWA AND HAMILTON — Prime Minister Stephen Harper set a collision course for a fall election on Tuesday, indicating he has given up on the fixed date his government wrote into law and will decide in a few weeks whether to call a national vote.

Delivery of an ultimatum when the Commons resumes sitting next month could send Canadians to the polls as early as Oct. 27, or even sooner if Mr. Harper decides to call off the session entirely to go straight to the hustings.