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Canadian National Election, Campaign Day 10 - Does Anyone Even Care?

by Rob Walker | September 16, 2008 at 11:34 am | 256 views | 3 comments | 0 recommendations

Re-elect Stephen Harper? You must be joking!

The Canadian Election campaign marches on, not that many people are paying attention to it. It's almost like the Conservatives under Harper *want* to get overshadowed by the US election.

For instance, the leaders debate, that hotly-contested debate where the Green leader Elizabeth May finally got in? It's the same night and time as the american vice-presidential debate between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden.

As one reporter put it, 'Thank god for Tivo'

Today, faced with the sharp fall of world markets, along with 200 points lost in the TSX since this morning, Prime Minister Stephen Harper finally admitted there were problems with the Canadian economy.

"At the moment there are problems in the Canadian economy, but we aren't in a recession," Harper told reporters during an election campaign stop in Kitchener, Ont., where he announced a tax credit of up to $5,000 for first-time homebuyers.
"We have a slowdown economically, but personal income growth continues. There are jobs, but there are job losses, but more gains.

Dion was bolstered this morning by former Liberal frontrunner Bob Rae, who introduced Dion at a press conference. Dion says the current leadership party is digging Canadian finances into a hole that doesn't suit Canadian ideology.

“We have a mission, and it's to offer Canadians a government that will bring us to a Canada that is richer, fairer, and greener, with a plan. And to kick out this Conservative government that is bringing us an economy more anemic that those in the G8, with an ideology that doesn't suit us.”

I live in Toronto, so it was interesting hearing mayor David Miller say that the Green Party's plan for financial and environmental spending is the best he's heard for the city.

He's not endorsing the Green Party, but believes it has the best plan for the three things that cities need most: a new funding framework, a national transit strategy and one-cent from the GST to sustain infrastructure.
Miller said the Conservatives' plan for cites is out-of-date, but also doesn't think the traditional army of Liberal candidates that dominate the city should be automatically re-elected without an urban plan and commitment.

Jack Layton, NDP leader, is answering questions at a town hall meeting in Welland, Ontario. This is an area hit hard by unemployment and businesses shutting down.

He was to travel to nearby Welland to make an announcement with local candidate Malcolm Allen in front of the John Deere and Co. plant which, it was announced earlier this month, will be closed and its 700 jobs moved to the U.S. and Mexico.