Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled the plug on his own minority government on Sunday, setting off a national election campaign

[trailmix 77]

Harper, Dion begin campaign heralding 'clear' and 'stark' choice for Oct. 14 vote

Norma Greenaway and Andrew Mayeda, Canwest News Service

Published: Sunday, September 07, 2008

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled the plug on his own minority government on Sunday, setting off a national election campaign that will send voters to the polls on Oct. 14 at a cost of about $300 million.

Harper said the campaign will give voters a choice "between clear direction or uncertainty" at a time of global economic trouble, and said his government's record proves it will be a sound steward in the future.

He also refused to predict the outcome of the vote, purposefully steering away from any thought he might be expecting a majority win.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks during a news conference following a meeting with Governor General Michaelle Jean We believe it's going to be a tough election. We believe it's going to be a tight election," he told reporters after a meeting with Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean.

Harper said he did not see a reason to go "personal or nasty" in the campaign, but added that he was prepared to take issue with the other parties' policies and cited the Liberal Green Shift carbon tax as a prime target. He said he expects the Liberals will focus on attacking him and the Conservatives because they cannot defend an environmental policy that Harper has dismissed as a "crazy" tax hike in risky economic times.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion kicked off his campaign minutes after Harper left Rideau Hall, telling voters they face a "stark choice" between the "most Conservative government in Canadian history" that doesn't believe government can have a positive effect on the country and a Liberal party that is progressive and sees government as an agent for tackling poverty, unemployment and climate change.

Speaking in the foyer of the House of Commons, Dion publicly embraced his position as an "underdog" as he characterized Harper as the most secretive and manipulative prime minister Canada has had., and cited the Conservative leader's decision to bypass his own-fixed date election law as an example of his need to control.

Dion, opening his first national election campaign, reached out to Quebecers to join the federal Liberals in getting the country back on what he sees as the right track on the economy and the environment.

"We'll tackle the climate change crisis, we'll increase energy efficient. I want to lead the Green revolution around the world," Dion said. "We Liberals have the team, we have the plan, and I must add, the leadership," said Dion.

Layton focused on Harper and what he said was the need for change as he launched his campaign in Gatineau, Que., at a rally.

"Unlike Stephen Harper, I'll be a prime minister who puts you and your family first," Layton told supporters directly across the river from Parliament Hill.

"I'll be a prime minister who brings change not just from the past 25 months, but change from the past 25 years."

Layton pledged to deliver change for the economy, health care and the environment, stressing that previous governments have failed to move forward.

"Doing things the way they've been done for the last 25 years won't build Canada," Layton said, "but choosing change that moves us forward will."

Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, who began campaigning Saturday, had a single message for Quebec voters, saying it was up to them to block Harper from getting a majority and imposing a "hidden agenda" on the country. He said voters must reject a government that he portrayed as "war-mongering" and out-of-touch with Quebecers demands for, among other things, tougher gun control and tougher action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Preaching the "politics of hope," Green Leader Elizabeth May focused almost exclusively on a passionate appeal for voters to "reclaim democracy" and become engaged in an election she says will determined how the planet survives.

"We stand at a critical place in earth history," she declared at a rally in Guelph, Ont., where she said getting the voting numbers up was the most important way to achieve change.

Harper arrived Sunday at Rideau Hall to formally ask Jean to dissolve Parliament for the country's 40th general election on grounds it had become "dysfunctional."

"This Parliament is at its useful end," Harper said. "Canadians have to give somebody a mandate."

Dion dismissed Harper's argument as "fake," and said he believes Harper rushed to an election because he fears the economy will get worse.

Voting day falls on the Tuesday after the Thanksgiving Day long weekend.

Surveys over the last 2 1/2 years of the minority government have consistently shown the three major parties at almost the same level of support that they chalked up in the Jan. 23, 2006, election.

At that time, the Conservatives had 36 per cent of the vote, the Liberals 30 per cent, and the NDP 17.5 per cent.

The Conservatives, who hold 127 of the 308 seats in the Commons, need to pick up 28 seats to form a majority. Going into the election, the Liberals have 95 seats, the Bloc 48, and the NDP 30. There are four members sitting as independents and there are four vacant seats.

With files from Juliet O'Neill and Mike De Souza

[iteachkids81 1]

because voting after a national holiday is just what we need!

/sarcasm

with all the craziness surrounding the US election, the Canadian election is going to just slip under the radar for many people!

[MrsCat 6]

- I'm moving just before. I need an absentee ballot.

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

Hmmm....maybe that's why the Canadians are calling for an election at this time, to compete with the US election! Isn't it an odd close co-incidence, that the Canadian election is in October this year, while the US election is in November this year? Creepy...

Creepy too, how Steven Harper the Conservative, is like George W. Bush the Republican? Long lost twins separated at birth, perhaps?

Oh well, doesn't matter much to me as to who wins in both the Canadian or the American elections, as I can't vote in either one of them this year anyways (I don't live in Canada anymore and I'm not an American Citizen yet)! There goes another election year to vote I'll be missing...

Ant (Not voting, creeped out ....)

Edited September 7, 2008 by AntandD

[MrsCat 6]

From Elections Canada:

If you are an elector (a person who is eligible to vote) and have been living away from Canada for less than five consecutive years since your departure from Canada, you are eligible to vote under the Special Voting Rules. You can register to vote at any time – just click here.

http://www.elections.ca/content.asp?sectio...y=false#voting1

[antda 13]

P.S. Adding a creepy face on the ballots for an October Canadian election and a November American election....

Ant (Voting for this year....)

[Fuzzness 2]

If I were back in Canada I would vote for anyone except the conservatives. Even the BQ is better than them.

[Emancipation 2]

Hi Everyone,

Hmmm....maybe that's why the Canadians are calling for an election at this time, to compete with the US election! Isn't it an odd close co-incidence, that the Canadian election is in October this year, while the US election is in November this year? Creepy...

Creepy too, how Steven Harper the Conservative, is like George W. Bush the Republican? Long lost twins separated at birth, perhaps?

Oh well, doesn't matter much to me as to who wins in both the Canadian or the American elections, as I can't vote in either one of them this year anyways (I don't live in Canada anymore and I'm not an American Citizen yet)! There goes another election year to vote I'll be missing...

Ant (Not voting, creeped out ....)

I dunno... i keep hearing this Bush/Harper comparison.. and quite honestly I don't see it.. they are both conservatives perhaps.. i see that. I'm not saying that Harper is well liked and a complete open book or anything.. i just think that his "twinness" with George W. isn't as "apparent" to me. I think CDN politics is so different than US that it's pretty darn hard to compare the two (the fact that Harper's job is COMPLETELY different than Bush's being one (there is no executive branch in Canada) and if Harper was making the same sort of "blunders" in Parliament that Bush had (and for as long as Bush had) what does it say about our Gov. in Canada if the rest of the house couldn't/ wouldn't take down his very weak minority gov. I dunno.. just my two cents. The rest of the members of the house had EVERY opportunity to stop Harper.. it's not a "oh my gosh we are so stuck with this clown for 4 more years" kinda scenario..

And the fact that it's a coincidence that the election was called? The house would have brought down the Harper gov. as soon as the fall session started.. Harper is just jumping the gun here.. stating - you aren't going to FIRE me, i"m going to QUIT first.. I don't think it has anything to do with the US. This was kinda expected (the CDN election) this fall for a LONG time...

Edited September 7, 2008 by Emancipation

[BH45 0]

- I'm moving just before. I need an absentee ballot.

You should be able to hit an advance poll before you move, yes?????

[Cassie 8]

Conversation overhead in a certain household in Tulsa this afternoon:

female: Look dear, the Canadian Prime Minister has called a federal election, and they will be voting in mid-October.

male: so let me get this straight. Your election is called, campaigned, and voted on in 6 weeks......and even after that is done I will still be waiting after two years of campaigning to vote in mine???

female: You got it.

male: When did we say we are moving to Canada again?!?

[Sprailenes 47]

Hi Everyone,

Hmmm....maybe that's why the Canadians are calling for an election at this time, to compete with the US election! Isn't it an odd close co-incidence, that the Canadian election is in October this year, while the US election is in November this year? Creepy...

Creepy too, how Steven Harper the Conservative, is like George W. Bush the Republican? Long lost twins separated at birth, perhaps?

Oh well, doesn't matter much to me as to who wins in both the Canadian or the American elections, as I can't vote in either one of them this year anyways (I don't live in Canada anymore and I'm not an American Citizen yet)! There goes another election year to vote I'll be missing...

Ant (Not voting, creeped out ....)

Steven Harper is nothing like GWB. Canada's conservatives are nothing like US republicans.

They aren't doing it to compete either, he is doing it as a strategy incase Obama wins, if Obama wins the liberals could very well begin to have more pull in parliament.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

... if Obama wins the liberals could very well begin to have more pull in parliament.

Why would libs in Canada have more pull if Obama wins in the US if and (as I am repeatedly told and believe) Canadian political parties have no real equivalents in the US?

edit: added the word 'and'

Edited September 7, 2008 by A.J.

[trailmix 77]

I don't see the similarities between George and Stephen. I will happily vote for Stephen....and Obama

Edited September 7, 2008 by trailmix

[Sprailenes 47]

... if Obama wins the liberals could very well begin to have more pull in parliament.

Why would libs in Canada have more pull if Obama wins in the US if and (as I am repeatedly told and believe) Canadian political parties have no real equivalents in the US?

edit: added the word 'and'

Because the US has a lot of power over Canada, as they do the rest of the world, we of course hate to admit it as Canadians, but they do. When it comes to signing agreements and working together if a democrat got in, then more democratic decisions would be made, therefore giving the liberals more power.

Of course, this is all speculation, but I think its fair to say that its accurate since its Harper we're talking about here.

[ChasingAmy 0]

... if Obama wins the liberals could very well begin to have more pull in parliament.

Why would libs in Canada have more pull if Obama wins in the US if and (as I am repeatedly told and believe) Canadian political parties have no real equivalents in the US?

edit: added the word 'and'

Because the US has a lot of power over Canada, as they do the rest of the world, we of course hate to admit it as Canadians, but they do. When it comes to signing agreements and working together if a democrat got in, then more democratic decisions would be made, therefore giving the liberals more power.

Of course, this is all speculation, but I think its fair to say that its accurate since its Harper we're talking about here.

I think Harper should have called an election earlier. With this government being such a minority it's amasing that they got ANYTHING done. Every been a minority and try and make the majority follow a long? Almost impossible. Our government has been disabled for a while now and he is just trying to get it back into working order. I will be voting for whoever does the most in regards to the economy, fuel costs, and whoever takes the highest road on the moral front.

I somehow doubt that the Liberal government will be able to do any of that with Dion in charge. He's seen as a whining whimp and not a leader of one of the best countries on the planet. So far it looks like I will be voting for Harper. That can change as we grow closer to the closing date though.