Prime Minister Stephen Harper's indicating there's a 50/50 chance of a federal election this year.
That's on top of recent speculation the opposition may be planning to bring down the government.
Brandon University political science professor Kelly Saunders points out we've been facing an election ever since the tories won a minority government in 2006. She describes this as poker politics.

 


Saunders feels the political parties are missing the message being sent by Canadians that no party is commanding a lot of confidence. She believes that's why politics is being tuned out, and voters are staying away from the polls.
Saunders thinks the only way to break out of the current cycle is through a majority government, noting we're seeing the negative aspects of minority government now.