Canada PM triggers election with vote in October

[webfact]

Canada PM triggers election with vote in October
ROB GILLIES, Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper triggered an election campaign Sunday and set the vote for Oct. 19, when Harper and his Conservative party hope to earn a fourth term after almost a decade in power.

Analysts say the election is a toss-up and Harper faces an uphill battle to form another majority government. If Harper wins he would become the first prime minister since 1908 to win four consecutive elections.

The prime minister dissolved Parliament Sunday in a visit to the governor-general, the ceremonial representative of Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's head of state.

Harper has managed to nudge a traditionally center-left country to the right since coming to power in 2006. He has gradually lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation, supported the oil industry against the environmental lobby, increased military spending and backed Israel's right-wing government. He has deliberately avoided sweeping policy changes that could derail his government.

Harper, 56, said the election is about keeping Canadians safe from terrorist attacks and the economy strong and. A collapse in oil prices, a major export, has hurt the Canadian economy.

He said now is not the time for inexperience and "political correctness," referring to the opposition leftist New Democrat party.

"A national election is not a popularity contest," Harper said. "It's a genuine choice between practical, serious, real-world experience and a dangerous approach that has failed before and is failing in other countries."

Analysts say a minority government in the 338-seat Parliament is likely no matter what party wins the most seats in Parliament. That would mean the winning party would have a shaky hold on power and need to rely on another party to pass new legislation.

A coalition government between the leftist New Democrats and Liberals is also possible.

Analysts say the opposition New Democrats, led by Tom Mulcair, 60, have a chance to gain power for first time after the party won control of the legislature in Alberta, Canada's most conservative province, a few months ago.

"Canadians are telling us that they want change. After 10 years of Stephen Harper in Ottawa they want to turn the page," Mulcair said.

Liberal leader Justin Trudeau, son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, is also in the running to be the next prime minister. But he has trailed in recent polls after Conservatives have run repeated attack ads saying the 43-year-old is not ready for the job.

The first televised debate is this Thursday and is seen as a key test for Trudeau, the son of the man whose legacy Harper is trying to erase.

Former colleagues of Harper say his long-term goals are to kill the once widely entrenched notion that the Liberals — the party of long-time leaders Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chretien — are the natural party of government in Canada, and to redefine what it means to be Canadian.

Harper called the election in the middle of a long holiday weekend in Canada in the dead of summer, triggering an unusual 11-week campaign rather than the usual five-week campaign that usually takes place. The campaign will be the longest in Canada since 1872, but each party has been unofficially campaigning for months.

Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political science professor, called the election a toss-up but said Harper has the advantage because the Conservative vote is more solid than the opposition's. He predicted Harper would win a minority government based on polling, but noted most Canadians won't start paying attention until September.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-03

[Colabamumbai]

Well fellow Canadians as expats we cannot vote, but maybe the Canadian public will get rid of Harper, it is about time.

[kingstonkid]

Given the choice between the 3 leaders I think that having him back is the best choice. Not that he is great jut that I do not want the NDP in power nor to I think the francophone obama is any good.

[lap82]

It's always good to have changes. And maybe it is time for them now.

[northernboy]

As a now second class Canadian with no voting rights. I now understand how "Americans Nationals" but not citizens from American Virgins Island, Guam, American Somoa and Puerto Rico feel as Nationals but not citizens and who have no voting rights and special passports . As Donald Sutherland and I choose to live most of the time out of Canada but still have no other citizenship no longer have the right to vote in our Federal elections .

I think the present government is rightfully afraid of Canadians, who probably have a world view and understand what what a sad job the present government has done in keeping Canadians prosperous, safe for fear mongering and corporate manipulation.

I am not saying the others leaders are ready for the job but at least they have not proven they are totally unworthy of the tasks it demands.

that is coming from one former Conservative supporter.

[Publicus]

 
The opposition New Democratic Party feeds off anti-Americanism in Canada.

NDP is against joining the American led campaign with Arab partners to stop ISIS in Iraq and Syria. PM Harper in contrast took Canadian support of Washington against ISIS to parliament for a yes vote.

NDP leader Tom Mulcair says he'd fight ISIS only if the UN or Nato leads it. Washington leading the fight against ISIS is a non-starter for the militant leftist NDP.

The NDP is borderline European socialist left.

Edited by Publicus due to website technical problems.

Edited August 3, 2015 by Publicus