Harper’s office said in a statement he is due to visit Governor General David Johnston – the representative of Queen Elizabeth, Canada’s head of state – at 9.55am (1355 GMT). “They have more money than the other parties so they can withstand a longer race”.
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This is Harper’s fifth national campaign as leader (he lost in his first outing, in 2004). “My priority is to build a respectful nation-to-nation relationship with our first peoples that recognizes inherent rights and brings us closer to reconciliation”.
Analysts say a minority government in the 338-seat Parliament is likely no matter what party wins the most seats in Parliament.
The federation said opposition parties will be pressed to say what they would do differently to get things moving.
He then proceeded to rattle off a number of areas in which the NDP accuses the Conservatives of falling dramatically short of what Canadians expect from their government, and how New Democrats would do better.
The campaign for parliamentary election will be the longest in modern Canadian history.
Political pundits theorize Harper called the start of the campaign earlier because his Conservatives (also known as Tories) have by far the biggest war chest of the three legitimate contenders.
Harper, who called the October. 19 vote a “critical decision” on the future of the country, tried to frame the ballot-box question as who should be in charge of managing the economy, creating jobs and overseeing national security. Liberals take heart, though, from an Ipsos poll conducted for Global News suggesting the election is “still anyone’s game” because 18 per cent of Canadians remain undecided.
Conservatives have long boasted they are the party proven during their time in power to be the most capable of steering the economy and to keep citizens safe from terrorists. Theirs is perhaps the only party at this point that could strike a solid balance between new and established MPs to form a cabinet.
“Do you remember when Mr. Harper promised to responsibly manage the country’s finances? In an extended campaign, that will be pretty terrible thin unless someone has deep pockets to give out a loan and particularly with the rise of the NDP”, said Mr. Goldring who is not seeking re-election and added that the reason for shortage of cash is infighting.
The NDP got wind in its sails from an upset victory in May in a provincial election in the traditionally conservative, oil-rich province of Alberta, and the federal NDP announced on Thursday its second-quarter fundraising had hit a record C$4.5 million ($3.5 million).
“The Green Party of Canada is dismayed by this apparent reversal, and believes that Mr. Mulcair owes it to Canadians to show up”. Opposition parties are also targeting some ridings in the Calgary area including Calgary Centre, Calgary Forest Lawn and Calgary Skyview.
Canada’s 42nd federal election kicked off Sunday August 1 with a difference.
The Conservatives killed that public subsidy, and if they win it will be gone, leaving them with a huge money advantage.
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“We’re not a one issue party, we’re not a one person party, we have extraordinary candidates across the country”, said May to cheerful supporters.
