Toronto, Sep 1 - Canada, which has not seen a majority government since 2004, faces the prospect of its fourth general election in five years.

In his statements Monday, opposition Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff didn't rule out the possibility of a snap election to end the minority rule of the Conservative Party.

The ruling party led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to power in January 2006 after toppling the Liberal Party which was plagued by a so-called sponsorship scandal under which it doled out millions to its favourites in Quebec province.

But the minority government opted for election last October but gained only a few more seats more, still falling 11 short of the majority mark in the 308-member House of Commons.

Responding to Canadian transport minister John Baird's statement earlier Monday that an election at this stage will derail the economic recovery, Ignatieff said the statement was a 'load of nonsense'.

'We are going to have a good discussion and we will make a decision when it suits us,' he said.