Stephen Harper to call federal election early next week, report says

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      Prime Minister Stephen Harper will get the federal election started on Sunday or Monday (August 2 or 3), CBC News has reported.

      According to the national broadcaster, Harper will visit Rideau Hall on one of those days to ask Governor General David Johnston to dissolve Parliament.

      Since Harper has signalled that he will keep the fixed election date of October 19, CBC says the 11-week race will be the "longest federal election campaign in modern history".

      CBC notes:

      Rumours about possible dates have swirled around Ottawa in recent weeks, partly because of a change in electoral law thought to benefit the Conservative Party.

      Until last year, the spending limits were set no matter the length of a campaign, the minimum amount of time for which is 37 days (with voting day falling on the 37th day). But the Conservatives' Fair Elections Act provided for the parties' $25-million limits to be increased if the campaign is longer than 37 days: for each additional day the limit is increased by 1/37th, or an extra $675,000.

      Candidates get an additional $2,700 a day to add to their usual limit of approximately $100,000.

      The CBC report follows a renewed public debate about the possibility of a coalition between the NDP and Liberals in the event the Conservatives win only a plurality of the seats in the House of Commons.

      NDP MP Nathan Cullen raised the idea in an interview with the Georgia Straight, but the idea was shot down by Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Stephen Harper's Cat

      Jul 29, 2015 at 3:56pm

      Oh sorry I didn't realize it hadn't started already with all the polling and attack ads and what have you.

      I won't be Conned

      Jul 29, 2015 at 4:43pm

      I can't wait to vote for regime change with my fellow Canadians.

      My friends the time has come to cast our vote for democracy.

      Heave oh Heave oh Heave .....

      0 0Rating: 0

      Conservative Flunky 123

      Jul 29, 2015 at 5:56pm

      Regime change? But doesn't that involve one of the most classic blunders - a land war in Asia?

      0 0Rating: 0

      Kiskatinawkid

      Jul 29, 2015 at 10:02pm

      Actually, there isn't going to be an election on Oct. 19th. Well, not 2015 anyways. Heir harper will go to Rideau Hall to tell the GG that he's gonna stretch his term out to 5 years. Allowed and perfectly legal. "The economies too fragile. Terrorists on every corner. Radicalized citizenry wanting to destroy our beloved free market capitalist system." Blah, blah blah. Brace for another year. There's still much needed changes to make! I really hope I'm full of shit, but don't put it past him!

      Anonymous

      Jul 30, 2015 at 4:19am

      This election will not be democratic.
      It will be dictated by the elites who are currently using thumb money on the spineless shills we are told to trust and believe will represent everyone else.
      On every side of the aisle.
      You keep doing the same thing over expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.
      I am tired of being complicit in crimes I did not commit.
      If change means a long hard struggle of years and years of not voting and thats my only viable option.
      Then that is the new reality I must assert.