To my neighbors to the north (or actually from where I live, a few miles to the south).......

[marmar]

..... drop this Harper clown.



from Bloomberg:



Canada's Harper, Citing Deadlock, Calls Oct. 14 Vote (Update1)

By Theophilos Argitis and Alexandre Deslongchamps

Sept. 7 (Bloomberg) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called elections for Oct. 14, seeking the first back-to- back victories by a Conservative party in two decades.

Harper, 49, citing political deadlock in the legislature, met with Canada's ceremonial head of state at about 8:20 a.m. New York time today to request the dissolution of Parliament.

The campaign will center on whether Canadians can afford tough environmental rules and higher spending as the world's eighth biggest economy struggles with the slowest growth in 16 years. The opposition Liberals, led by Stephane Dion, would fund C$15.4 billion ($14.5 billion) a year in spending and tax cuts through a levy on fuel consumption. Harper calls the plan ``insane,'' saying it will damage the energy-driven economy.

``Canadians will choose a government to defend their interests at a time of global economic trouble,'' Harper told reporters in Ottawa outside the Governor General's residence.

The prime minister is 27 seats short of a majority in Parliament and relies on rival parties to pass laws. Most polls show neither the Conservatives nor the main opposition Liberals have enough support to win a majority. .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aezZB5.c0YXQ&refer=home

[glarius]

1. I'm praying Dion the new Liberal leader can get his message across

and win in October. As you probably know, Canada is not a conservative or right leaning country. Harper got elected by fooling the public (who were mad at the Liberals at the time) into believing he was a middle of the road person. Stephane Dion, sadly, does not project a strong image.....although he is a dogged fighter for what he believes in. I detest Harper and hope that in the course of this campaign, my fellow Canadians will see what a controlling, devious bastard he is. If he gets a majority government....I shudder to think of it!
Thank you for your interest.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Canadian elections trendline site:

http://www.trendlines.ca/electcanada.htm

It's a bit hard to read, but it seems to be projecting that the Liberals will end up with a few more seats than the Conservatives, but not enough to form a government by themselves.

NDP looks like it's fading away, at the national level.