TORONTO — Liberal Leader Stephane Dion says he is perfectly prepared to meet with what he calls a “panicking” prime minister before Parliament is scheduled to resume on Sept. 15.

But Dion says Stephen Harper has no intention of holding serious talks with the opposition parties about the minority Conservative government’s fall agenda.

Dion says Harper’s officials did not indicate any urgency when he was contacted about a meeting with the prime minister eight days ago.

Now the prime minister is saying Dion’s refusal to meet immediately shows that Parliament is dysfunctional and reason enough for a fall election.

Dion says Harper is simply trying to force an election before the slowing economy shows Conservative policy shortcomings, and before parliamentary committees can explore the Tories’ “ethical” problems.

The Liberal leader says Harper’s complaints about scheduling talks with opposition leaders are a way of masking that he’s about to break the Conservatives’ legislated promise on fixed election dates.

But Dion says Stephen Harper has no intention of holding serious talks with the opposition parties about the minority Conservative government’s fall agenda.

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