Sir Didier Drogba
Head Official
So, Stephen Harper has called the election, for October 19.
With almost three months to go, the election has been called extremely early, resulting in an unusually long campaign period.
Some would say Harper did this to allow for a more in depth debate of the issues facing Canada, others would say he wishes to take advantage of his party's superior financial resources to fight a long campaign.
Current polls put the three parties almost equal at this stage, with the Conservatives still maintaining a slim lead and NDP still remaining second by a tiny margin. But we all know we can't trust the polls.
Some interesting things have happened in the interim since the last election, with the conservatives looking threatened in their traditional heartlands for the first time, but with Trudeau failing to rally his early momentum and seize all the lost ground back from the NDP. Trudeau seems to be gearing up to fight a 'positive campaign', which is doing great things for his image, but has been seen to fail in Canada in the past, for example for the NDP in the most recent BC provincial elections. However, Mulcair, buoyed by his party making ground in progressive conservative areas, seems to be entirely neglecting Trudeau, which could be a mistake. Crucially, Harper seems to be holding Ontario thusfar.
I still predict Harper to be returned, and become the first PM in over a century to win four elections, but to lose his majority. I believe a Harper win would be good for Canada.
With almost three months to go, the election has been called extremely early, resulting in an unusually long campaign period.
Some would say Harper did this to allow for a more in depth debate of the issues facing Canada, others would say he wishes to take advantage of his party's superior financial resources to fight a long campaign.
Current polls put the three parties almost equal at this stage, with the Conservatives still maintaining a slim lead and NDP still remaining second by a tiny margin. But we all know we can't trust the polls.
Some interesting things have happened in the interim since the last election, with the conservatives looking threatened in their traditional heartlands for the first time, but with Trudeau failing to rally his early momentum and seize all the lost ground back from the NDP. Trudeau seems to be gearing up to fight a 'positive campaign', which is doing great things for his image, but has been seen to fail in Canada in the past, for example for the NDP in the most recent BC provincial elections. However, Mulcair, buoyed by his party making ground in progressive conservative areas, seems to be entirely neglecting Trudeau, which could be a mistake. Crucially, Harper seems to be holding Ontario thusfar.
I still predict Harper to be returned, and become the first PM in over a century to win four elections, but to lose his majority. I believe a Harper win would be good for Canada.