Off to the races

Well, we're off to the races. Harper decided on an election for October 14, 2008 and the Governor General went along. I still don't think there was a need for this election -- but that sentiment and $2.50 will buy a coffee at Starbucks ... .

The race is on: Harper calls election for Oct. 14

Canadians will go to the polls on Oct. 14, after Conservative Leader Stephen Harper met with Governor General Michaelle Jean Sunday morning and asked her to dissolve Parliament.

"Between now and Oct. 14, Canadians will choose a government to look out for their interests at a time of global economic trouble," Harper told reporters on Sunday after he triggered the vote.

"They will choose between direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness or recklessness."

Harper said his government delivered on its commitments and developed consensus on major issues such as the mission in Afghanistan and Indian residential schools.

"But now we have come to a moment where the people of Canada have to choose the way forward."

The election writ was dropped despite the Conservative Party's own legislation that set a fixed election date for October 2009.

Critics have charged the Tories of breaking their own law for political gain, and Sunday morning the Liberal Party issued a press release on the matter, under the subject header "Conservative Broken Platform Promise of the Day."

"(Harper) is the one who brought in the law ... and then just threw it out," former Liberal cabinet minister Sheila Copps told CTV Newsnet Sunday morning from Ottawa.

The NDP said the election call raises key issues that will be central in the campaign.
"It's another example of how Mr. Harper can't be trusted, and I think this is a good opportunity to take a look at leadership in this campaign," NDP strategist Brad Lavigne said.