From Globe and Mail Update:

Harper's handlers warn he may no longer take questions from media

STEVEN CHASE
Globe and Mail Update
October 11, 2008 at 8:09 PM EDT

LONGEUIL, QUE. — Stephen Harper appears to be bunkering down to avoid last-minute mishaps in the final days of the campaign: His staff are warning it's likely that the Conservative Leader won't take any more questions from journalists accompanying his tour until election day.

They handed out a schedule for Sunday that has no time set aside for talking to the approximately 20 reporters who are accompanying Mr. Harper on his campaign.

He still has two days of campaigning left – Sunday and Monday – that are expected to take him across Quebec and to Prince Edward Island before possibly wrapping up in Windsor, Ont. and Regina.

Mr. Harper generally only answers questions from the press on his campaign plane once a day – in the morning – and he conducted his last news conference this morning after a whistle-stop in London, Ont.

The Conservative Leader's staff offer several explanations. One official said it's simply a question of schedules and that they don't have enough time to scrum due to the hectic pace of the final two days. Another said that there will be “nothing to react to” over Sunday and Monday.

The federal election is Tuesday.

Mr. Harper will however continue to do exclusive one-one-one interviews with local media in each region he visits, staff say.