New Brunswick voters will head to the polls Sept. 18, Premier Bernard Lord announced on Thursday, before he had actually called an election.

"My intentions are to visit the lieutenant governor next weekend and my intentions are to call an election at that time," Lord, 40, told reporters.

That would leave about 30 days for campaigning. The province's election laws state that campaigns must be between 28 and 38 days long.

While Lord had earlier said he wanted an election in October 2007, he will soon lose his one-seat majority, now that Progressive Conservative cabinet minister Peter Mesheau is stepping down on Sept. 7.

Lord's party would then become a minority government.

"This past year or so my heart has not been in it," said Mesheau. "And I can assure you, anyone in politics, if your heart's not in it ... you shouldn't be there."

Mesheau, a former finance minister, said he will return to the private sector after he retires from politics.

But Conde Grondin, a political scientist, said Lord may have another reason for announcing the early vote date -- and doing so before actually calling an election.

"He may be giving himself a chance to change his mind, if he feels that a lot of people in New Brunswick are too upset," said Grondon.

Meanwhile, the province's other political parties are already preparing their campaigns.

N.B. Liberal leader Shawn Graham, who received news of the voting date while he was enjoying a round of golf, said New Brunswick must be taken in a new direction.

"It's time that, as the Liberal party of New Brunswick, we define where we want to take our great province," he said.

An NDP spokeswoman said that her party was also gearing up for the campaign.

"We are ready. We'll be phoning candidates in every riding, and we're getting all of our materials and signs printed this weekend," said Lyndsey Gallant.

The NDP currently has no seats in the province's legislature. But the party's leader, Allison Brewer, told The Canadian Press that her number one priority "is to make sure we have candidates in all 55 ridings."

So far, they only have two.

'Rising energy costs'

Energy could be a major issue in the campaign. Graham has already promised to give tax rebates for hybrid cars, and create subsidies to homeowners for conservation upgrades.

Graham said that electricity rates have risen 25.8 per cent since Lord first took office in 1999.

Lord's government is tackling the cost by rebating the eight per cent provincial sales tax on energy bills for next year.

The premier has also said his government will refurbish the Lepreau nuclear reactor and put money into wind power.

Currently, the Conservatives have 28 seats, including the Speaker, who does not vote unless there is a tie. The Liberals have 26 seats, and another is held by an independent.

With a report by CTV Atlantic's Monica Verma and files from The Canadian Press