Updated: Sat Sep. 06 2008 11:10:35 PM

CTV.ca News Staff

On the eve of an election call, Prime Minister Stephen Harper says he's anticipating a "very nasty" campaign from the opposition parties, in an exclusive interview with CTV News.

Harper is expected to call an election Sunday morning, with Canadians going to the polls on Oct. 14 -- despite his party's own legislation that set a fixed election date for October 2009.

In an exclusive interview with Harper to be broadcast Sunday on CTV's Question Period, he said he expects the opposition parties to try to demonize him.

"To be really honest, I anticipate a very nasty, kind of personal-attack campaign," he told Lloyd Robertson, CTV's chief news anchor and senior news editor, at Harrington Lake.

"That's just what I'm anticipating; that's what the opposition's done in the past. I think that whether Canadians agree with what we're doing or not, I don't think they're going to believe the kind of personal attacks and scare tactics that we've seen in the past."

Harper also defended his choice to ask the Governor General for an election. In the past, he has called Parliament too "dysfunctional" to continue.

"The Opposition doesn't want to support the government any longer for anything," he said. "The government doesn't want to change direction ... You know, everybody around Ottawa knows this Parliament has reached its useful end."

All of the parties are ready to launch their campaigns on Sunday, although it appears the Liberal have had problems getting their plane ready.

The New Democrats have taken their campaign bus for a test spin and the Conservatives are running election ads, but the Liberals are scrambling to fix up a Boeing 737 made in 1979.

The Air Inuit plane is not expected to be ready until near the end of the week. Conservatives say it's a blunder on the part of Liberal Leader Stephane Dion.

"I think this underscores his weak leadership and what a risk he would be as prime minister. He can't even lead his own party," said Conservative MP Jason Kenney.

Liberal MP Bob Rae, speaking in his Toronto riding on Saturday, said his party is well prepared for the election -- despite the delay in getting a plane.

"We're ready to go," he said. "The only transportation I need in Toronto Centre are my feet, and they are in good shape."

A recent Strategic Counsel poll suggested the Conservatives have an eight-point lead over the Liberals, but Rae said his party has a "great chance of being successful" in the looming election.

Rae also said he will do whatever he can to help Dion, who he said is a "very tough cookie," to become prime minister.

The Strategic Counsel poll for CTV and the Globe and Mail gave top leadership marks to Harper, followed by NDP Leader Jack Layton. Dion came in third. But Rae said Dion didn't have any weaknesses as a leader.

Meanwhile, in a new NDP ad released Saturday, the left-leaning party took aim at Harper's leadership.

The ad claimed that Harper cut corporate taxes by $50 billion even though one in eight Canadian children lives in poverty.

Harper is "strong enough to ignore nearly five million Canadians who can't find a family doctor," a female announcer intones before linking oilsands development in Harper's home province of Alberta to environmental devastation.

"We need a new kind of strong," she says.

Layton then tells the viewer: "The 'new strong' is about fighting for what's right for you."

While the NDP spent as much time attacking the Liberals in the last two years as the Tory government, neither Dion nor the Liberals are mentioned in the ad.

"I think the ad really speaks to our central message, which is that we have a leader who is prepared to replace the prime minister," NDP president Ann McGrath told CTV Newsnet on Saturday.

On the Conservative party's website, virtually all of the attacks are aimed at Dion, not Layton.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives released new television ads this week showing Harper's softer side, where he talked about playing cards with his children.

Conservative strategist Goldy Hyder told Newsnet that a key question in the looming campaign will be who is best qualified to manage both the federal government and the overall economy.

Geoff Norquay, another Conservative strategist, told Newsnet that Harper was the safe, steady choice and that picking Dion would be risky.

With a report by CTV's Rosemary Thompson in Ottawa and files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Marc
I would really hope that Bob Rae would be doing all he can to help Mr. Dion win the election. If he didn't then he should chose another party to represent.

IT manager in Toronto
Dream on Bob Rae. You and the libs wont get a chance to tax us to death again or bankrupt Canada. Socialist ideas are dead. Thats why there is only one provincial NDP government left. You may fool the people in Toronto but that's where your popularity will end.

Bill
What planet is Bob Rae living on !!!

James in Ottawa
Dion as PM, WOW that is a scary thought, I would rather vote Green party then let Dion be PM!!!!

Allan M
While Dion is no 'junkyard dog' I think Harper has clearly underestimates Dion's leadership capabilities. Hopefully this works to the advantage of the Liberals so Harper can finally be removed and his deeply ideological methods of governing will be put to an end.

HAHAHA
AS IF!!!

Ryan P.
Bob Rae also predicted "success" when he ran the Ontario economy into the ground. People don't forget "Rae Days" because you were the color red as opposed to your true orange. Good Luck Mr. Rae you and your lost Liberal colleagues are going to need it.

Ryan
What did you expect him to say? The truth? As if he's going to admit to crushing defeat. The best the Liberals can hope for is a Tory minority.

Larry Archer, Maple Ridge, BC
Liberal MP Bob Rae thinks the majority of Canadians are going to vote Liberal next month?

I'm looking for someone to buy ocean front property in Saskatchewan and I think I know who that is.. :-)

Steve
Dion will be the first Liberal leader since before Trudeau to not become Prime Minister of Canada! Thank goodness for all of us. He will go down to Harper, then Ignatieff will take over for the next election. Again, since Trudeau, the Liberal party always alternates its leaders between French and English.

Martin
Bob Rae need to do some rethinking!

He thought he could win two Ontario elections, look what happened.

Now he has changed parties to what he thought is a stronger party. They were, aren't now. I cannot imagine Dion as our PM.

Elizabeth
To save our country from the right wing conservatives let's hope Bob Rae is right. We are not like the US Republicans. Let's not be fooled by the Harper Mr nice guy ads.

Jim
...the sooner an election happens, the sooner yet another (YAWN!) Liberal leadership feud can happen and get front page news, and the sooner Rae will be in charge

Dave from Toronto
When you look at the whole talent of the Liberal caucus, you see a great depth of experience and talent. Even though the Conservative's have been in power for over 2 years their ranks of talented cabinet ministers are lacking, especially now that 3 of the most experienced and talented won't be seeking re-election. But why would you need talent, when Harper runs everything? This should be an interesting and lively election, I hope voters wake up and get involved, as this will be a very important vote for Canada.

Kevin
Who's Bob Rae?

The Right Honourable Stephane Dion??
If Dion becomes Prime Minister I promise to fly my Canadian flag upside down for as long as he's in office.
The Liberal Party should run a small campaign (they don't have any money) and gear up for the next election by finding a credible leader and even more credible platform.

Greg in the Hammer
What's he supposed to say? I think Rae and Ignatief have already dusted off their leadership convention playbooks and are waiting for the aftermath of the election.

I would certainly hope that Canadians are not gullible enough to vote the Liberals into power again anytime soon. They clearly have not learned anything from their time in the wilderness. They're even trotting out tired old slogans from the 50s and 60s like "Tory times are tough times"....

The sooner we send this party to the dustbin of history the better.

DCR-Toronto
Rae joined the Liberal Party because he knows the NDP(socialist) movement is dead. That being said, it seems that the left over Liberal Party has turned into the NDP of a few years ago. If the Libs don't start understanding that they have to get back to the centre, they will be out of power for a very long time. People want their own money and their own choices. Not a party that says "we know best". I for one, will be very happy to see that happen. Dions plicys divide this country. Anyone who can't see that, obviously isn't paying attention.

Don in Manitoba
I think that Mr. Rae along with the Liberal party are living in a dream world. After this election, Mr. Dion will be the X leader of the Liberal Party. Boy did the Liberal drop the ball when they elected this Flip flop leader. His green shift tax will again be another tax grab from the west.

Roland Godin
If the election is illegal it is illegal to vote...

Don NB
I hope the Lib's get enough votes in Quebec to help the Con's wipe out the Bloc for good.

steve
harper only cares about the West. He confirmed that by his recent remarks about Newfoundland.He let the auto sector go under and then pretends he is their saviour.Rich Liberal Ontario is going to pay dearly if he is elected even if by minority.Daycare should be an election issue albeit not the most important issue. Dont be fooled by his new concocted image.He is as right wing as you get.

Connie
Dion is a man of ideas and integrity. It is sad that Harper turned out to be like all the rest. Many of us hoped when he said he would be different, he meant it. The spending spree, not being able to trust what he says are old politics. The old lines of tax and spend liberals don't hold up to history. I hope people think and get away from worn out rhetoric. We want new ideas, new ways, new respect, and someone that will actually represent all Canadians.

Joyce
So if Rae thinks Dion can stand up to Harper in the Election where was he when the Liberals did not show up in full force, while the HOC was sitting. This is where Dion should have stood up to Harper, but alas we all know he did not. They did not seem to be around when the many votes, which one cannot count on their fingers and toes,went on and for which we the taxpayers paid for their salaries for no show.
The Liberals certainly did not set a good example for the workers of this Country by abstaining and not showing up to earn their paycheque.

Mark from Brampton (Ontario)
Spoken exactly like someone who wants Dion out as leader, and to be leader himself after this next election.

Anyone who says Dion has no leadership weaknesses has never seen him in action, or heard him speak.

ABC, simple as 123
ABC

A-nybody.
B-ut.
C-ONservative.

Need we say more!

Peter
Sorry Bob, but the Canadian people are predicting that Harper will win. If Harper is called a bully because he has more policical suave that any of the other leaders, then so be it!

John G
It's going to be a tough decision Mr. Harper is a strong individual who controls from the top and involves very few of his MPs in the actual decision and strategy of governing. Mr. Dion on the other hand is a leader who involves more of his party members in all but the most personal of strategies. Regardless of what all the advertisements tell us, both would not be where they are today unless they had leadship qualities, and to say differently is to ignore reality. Anyone who thinks differently is really involved in partisan politics and not looking beyond their narrow party focus. The leadership issue is really one of style and presence. The Conservative are now scrambling to make the strong individual softer so we the ordinary will start to identify him as a more caring, fatherly, family guy that we could all chum around with. On the other hand the liberal are trying to make the consenus builder look stronger in the wake on a long and sustained ad attack sponsored by the conservatives. Must like the ads the liberals used to sew doubt in Mr. Harper's agenda. Bottom line there is little or no difference in abilities to lead it really come down to style. Therefore, I suggest we all look at the issues and concerns we each have and decide based on the platform of each of the parties. Don't get fooled by the "my daddy is better than your daddy argument." Keep focussed on the issues and platforms. This is going to be another nailbiter of election so hold on.

Gary
"Rae predicts Liberal 'success' in election" And pigs fly:)

jlb
To put Mr. Rae's comments in true liberal context, "POPPYCOCK"

Rob
Once the Libs lose badly, maybe Bob Rae will do one of two things: 1)go for the Liberal leadership again (Dion's days are numbered), or 2)switch to the Conservatives - he knows all about changing political party's

RagingBull
Rae used to be with the NDP. Success, as we define it, is a matter of relativity.

Shane Prpich
I am glad to see that the NDP are going after the real threat to global security; Harper and the Conservatives.

PrairieDog
Bob Rae is completely out to lunch if he thinks that Dion hasn't any leadership weaknesses. As for the NDP taking shots at Harper for cutting corporate taxes???...if Harper didn't, there would only be a handful of companys left in this country. Thus, no jobs. We MUST stay competitive. But I guess that's what the NDP does. Complain and tax with no solutions. Less corporate taxes, means more corporations. In turn means more jobs, ...Thus, getting more people OUT of poverty. The concept is simple, and it works. Communism doesn't work, Jack! All these "programs" that Jack has... costs ALOT of money. How does he propose to pay for them all when half the country is out of work, because the corporations went elsewhere??? No taxes from the people out of work, means a bankrupt country!

Not Garry Larson
I don't get how some people think that the Liberals are going to "tax us to death." Weren't we paying less tax at the end of Paul Martin's run as Finance Minister than we were when he started?

If we survived Harper as PM we'll likely also survive Dion. It's not like either one brings much to the table.

As someone without any political affiliation I find it incredible how these parties control people and get them to be mouthpieces for them. Comments like "Dream on Bob Rae" are odd given that Nanos poll that put the Liberals in the lead. So "Dream on Bob Rae" is equivalent to "Dream on Stephen Harper" since either scenario is likely.

Doug
Did Bob Rae say that he expects the Liberals to win as the new New Democratic Party? That should be enough to scare Ontario voters, especially since he pratically bankrupted the province as the leader of the old New Democratic party. Does anyone really need yesterday's over-tax and spend socialist to tell us how to vote.

Robert
The last 2 years have shown harper's ability to govern, and to get things done.
He has done what the Conservatives said they would do. Other important legislation which they have said they would do, has been blocked by an obstructionist non-elected Senate.
Whether you agree with him or not, he has remained true to his core beliefs of smaller government, increasing family spending power, reducing taxes, and non-intervention in the marketplace.
Bob Rae has left his NDP roots and become a left-leaning Liberal. No one seems to be suggesting that he has abandoned HIS principles, also have people forgotten the disaster of the NDP Rae government in Ontario?
Stephane Dion has no control over his own party, and has flip-flopped on so many issues. And the so-called Green Shift will increase the visible and hidden tax burden on Canadian families.
Harper and the Conservatives will be elected again - as they successfully control and govern from the centre of the political spectrum.

Kate
I don't think that Canada can afford another Harper term. Clearly he only thinks about what is best for the west. He isn't concerned about the environment and he panders to big business and the oil companies. He is a mini George Bush! I am hoping Canadians don't fall into the same trap as the Americans did when they re-elected the power hungry, incompetent, "my way or the highway" Bush. Harper has displayed the same dangerous characteristics and has been taking Canada down a slippery dangerous road.

Gopal
It is amazing to see Harper call an election. The economy is in a turmoil and instead of him spending this money in fiding ways to get the economy going and putting the unemployed back to work... it does not seem to bother him to squander the tax payers money just to satisfy his interest. I hope people will see this and vote his party out of power!!

Al from Calgary
Elizabeth:
Please explain exactly what we are, we aren't the US republicans no matter how much the libs try to use scare tatics. You should ask your self one question, are we better off today than we were 2 years ago which is yes. Try doing some research instead of spinning the same old were going the way of the US. I'm sorry but I believe we should make our own way in life, help the unfortunate and the sick, better access for the disabled etc. and I will vote conservative, as for MR Layton, God help us if he ever gets in all he wants to do is tax business into moving out of the country, and I would like to see where the money comes from later to make up for this shortfall. He knocks tax cuts to business but as soon as one closes down he is screaming for the govt to bail them out sorry Jack you can't have it both ways. As for Harper spending just before an election, I guess the Libs did teach him something afterall buy votes with the peoples own money a great Liberal trick from elections past

proud conservative
I hope the conservatives do get a majority . I know I am doing better now that I was
4 years ago.I am voting for Harper because I think he has done a pretty good job. BTW, I don't know any seniors affected by the income trust . The only people I know affected by it have tons of money and still have tons of money.I never felt sorry for them at all and still don't. Most of us live pay cheque to pay cheque and would like to see more money and less tax on our cheques.

Ontario Taxpayer
Bob Rae as a Liberal is all the proof I need of how NDP has beens have hijacked the LPC. They are just another version of the NDP party.....GO HARPER GO!

Concerned Citizen
What's the use, all the leaders work for the big companies, no party is bothered about the people.
My vote is for the party which promises to clear out the inappropriate ethics of the following
1. Fuel Companies charging whatever they want.
2. Immigration policies, which gets people of 45+ because they need 10+ years working experience after 4 years graduation, and CIC takes 7 years to clear their application, which makes the people landing here on PR not less than 45 and after 20 years, starting paying them CPP and also their health coverage as they have passed their prime age and they get free health coverage without paying much, what a POLICY
3. NO COMPETITION in Canada. That is why the prices are always 30+ percent more than in US including items produced in Canada

AT THIS RATE, CANADA WILL BECOME A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY IN LESS THAN 100 YEARS. WHAT A TRIBUTE TO CANADIAN FOREFATHERS

Mary Ewen
People are growing tired of the "scarey agenda" rhetoric,constantly being spewed by the Libs and their supporters.
They've tried the same attack,for 3 elections now.
It's proven hollow.
I'd like to see the Lib Party leave the political stage for another decade or so,or at least until they fess up,to where the $40 million in adscam money is,and then return it to taxpayers.

Too bad Rae isn't the party leader...
It's increasingly worrying that the right wing mentality is tightening its grip on North America and by extension the world. If Bob Rae was leading the liberal party things would be much different in the political spectrum - Dion should really step down and pass the leadership role to a real political player like Rae. The conservatives were rightly relieved when Rae didn't get the job as liberal leader, because they know that Rae could stick it to them. Rae's a good guy and the type of leader Canada could use right now.

Mark these words: a Harper majority in the Canadian election + a McCain victory in the US election = an upswing WAR and DEATH in the not too distant future... conservatives are warmongerers and we're collectively asking for it by voting these people into ruling us... don't let it happen, Canada. If Harper's got to stay, then keep it a minority!

gerry
It will be interesting to see the unfolding leadership of Stéphane Dion. We haven't really been exposed to it yet, but I remember when he was first elected as leader of the Liberal party his obvious quick wit, intelligence, and caring nature for the economic and ecological quality of life for Canadians were in fact leadership qualities. So I won't be surprised to see Dion simply skate around Harper and score. Don't underestimate the little guy.

MM
May I remind you that yes the conservatives did cut the GST a few percent and cut some taxes but they also said before they were elected into power that they were not going to tax income trusts. Then, all of a sudden when many of you were out with your children trick or treating on October 31, 2006 our government eroded 30 billion dollars worth of Canadian's hard earned money in a knee jerk reaction to tax trusts. They eroded the hard earned money of many retired Canadians who have paid their entire lives taxes to this country. To save a few percent on the GST and added a few tax credit benefits to working Canadians does not make up for the billions this government has purposely taken from its people in one single day.

Dayton
A western leader taking seats from the Bloc in Quebec or an eastern leader trying to make a break through in the west. Do the math DION and RAE you guys are toast!!!

Martin of NS
I almost had a spit-take when I read the headline. In no way are the Liberals going to win under Dion's leadership. People like Ignatieff and Rae are going to have to pull the slack of their leadership to even let the liberals have a chance in this election. Harper will most likely win again regardless of majority or minority and the Liberals will actually find a good leader. I used to be a liberal but they are far too left for me nowadays, for now I will support the conservatives.

Mary Ewen
ABL.
Anything
But
Liberal.

Chatty
This election is a waste of time. In difficult economic conditions, it is also a waste of public funds.
In the end, Ontarians will understand the dangers of giving Harper a majority and the result will be another minority government.

Eleanor
I am very disillusioned by this election
I like Harper in some respects but I do not like that he is not very open with the Canadian people!I do
not like all these secret meetings he had with Bush and the president of Mexico so much so, no press were ever allowed at them or protestors near them.what was up with those anyway bc the press sure never addressed it.then you got Dion who has still not connected with the Canadian people and knows he is bringing his party down and is too vain to step down so someone can replace him! the members must be kicking themselves now that they all stood behind him when they had other great choices like Bob Rae, Michael Ignatieff and even Gerard Kennedy!!
If you vote the other parties
you basically throw your vote away.to be honest I am not sold on anyone!

VH
we are all entitled to our fantasies!

Al from Calgary
To Connie:
SO Dion is a man of ideas and integrity. So far the only idea is his green shift which does nothing for the enviroment, and as for his integrity didn't he say it was bad policy for a carbon tax when he was running for the leadership of the libs, he also said that he will never impose a carbon tax, so there goes his integrity. PS his green shift will do as much for the enviroment as Harpers NO shift plan which is zero just a transfer of money so he can pay for his campaign promises.

Paul
To IT manager in Toronto. -- I assume you are under the age of 30 and have forgotten how Mulroney and his ilk almost bankrupt the country with their policies. You don't remember 18% mortgage rates. It was the LIBERALS that cleaned up that mess leaving a substantial surplus in the coffers passed over to Harper (Alliance/Reform. I still can't call them conservatives). That being said, the Cons have depleted that surplus (buying votes in Quebec)and putting the country in economic hard times. So, Tell me about bankrupting Canada.

Matt
Isn't there anything better to do in Tory HQ than flood these boards with partisan rhetoric? Couldn't you all actually be doing something more useful, like coming up with solutions to Canada's problems?

Herb
To Al:

You said, "You should ask your self one question, are we better off today than we were 2 years ago which is yes."

Exactly how are we better off? The 2% GST? cut? Or perhaps you mean the government's diminishing fiscal strength? Maybe Harper's control issues and lack of interpersonal skills? (It does indicate some sort of pathology). I know, you must mean Harper's rapport with his provincial counterparts!

Craig in Calgary
"Harper is "strong enough to ignore nearly five million Canadians who can't find a family doctor"

All this ads shows is that the NDP is completely oblivious to the Constitution.

Health Care is a provincial responsibility!

Plus, what does Layton want Mr. Harper to do? Doctors have to want to set up their own practice to get patients. They aren't setting up their own practice because they are forced to be unsuccessful under the Canada Health Act.

Raymond
Kevin asks:
Who's Bob Rae?

Good question.

Mr. Rae is an un-abashed socialist who took his provincial NDP government from 52% popularity to 6% popularity in 3 short years. He plunged Ontario into a $9B deficit, then capped enrollment into medical schools, further exacerbating a shortage of MD's.

...and now he criticizes Stephen Harper.

Rick in NB
Mary Ewen:
ABC is a slogan used by Danny Williams to try and abolish the Tory Government. It well known, as Danny likes to say it whenever he can. It makes Harper crazy.
Where did you get ABL. Its a schoolyard attempt at revenge. Being positive in posting can influence other posters. Your kind of comment just turns people off.

Frank Buchan
All politics aside, anyone who thinks the government controls economic circumstances must also believe they are living in a communist society. The economy is what it is because of broad sectoral adjustments due to long term protectionist policies (mostly in the US) biting back; and because of the repressed economy of our largest trading partner (again, the US). This has zilch to do with the policies of the sitting government, and not much to do with the last one; though slightly more with the last one because the cycle of the economy is at least four or five years, meaning we won't see any impact from policies enacted the last 2 for another 2. I'm not commending the Conservatives here, but blaming them for the current economy is nonsense -- it's too soon to know what they did.

As to the argument the income trust move hurt Canadians, it did, but it was also a painful necessity to stop a large number of major corporations from simply turning off their tax contributions. If all the biggest corporations stopped paying taxes, the shortfalls would be made up by all of us, and the fear was that the wealthiest Canadians had a seriously unfair advantage if that camne to pass.

More politically, as to Dion's leadership skills, he hasn't shown any. Leaders do not abstain from votes on confidence bills they claim to disagree with. Leaders do not make a statement that a plan is ethically sound only to warp it to suit consumption. Dion was not a leader when he was Environment Minister (he did nothing there for years). He is an academic, and his practical knowledge outside politics (and even inside from all proof) is lacking.

Edmonton John
Bob Rae may be right. I get the sense that there is not a huge groundswell of support for Harper outside the traditional ideologically-bound Canadians who refuse to consider altering their votes under any circumstances.

Dion has a good plan. I shook his hand yesterday in Edmonton and wished him well. He is just an ordinary guy, and I admired his bravery coming into what Liberals might consider hostile territory to sell a new idea in the face of criticism and negative ads by Harper. He was doing something he believed in, and won a lot of respect for his courage and honesty.

Harper, meanwhile, is spending like a drunken sailor. I hope all the knee-jerk reactionaries who can't say Liberal without appending the exaggerated and misleading phrase, 'tax-and-spend' to it, notice this spending spree. I hope they realize it is their tax money that he is spending in order to help his election.

It just shows that yes, the Conservatives tax just as much if not more than Liberals, and spend just as much if not more as well. Dion yesterday said that he does not want to pay any more taxes, either. None of us do. We want to pay what is necessary to support our high standard of living.

Dion's Green plan, if you read it, goes beyond that. It increases our standard of living and will not result in the loss of jobs, or starvation or eviction or whatever hysterical rants the Conservative spin-meisters would have you believe.

This should be an interesting election, to say the least. I hope when the dust settles, Bob Rae's instincts prove to be correct.

Another view from Calgary
To Al From Calgary: Repeating Tory spin lines doesn't make you thoughtful. Leaders with integrity and vision consider other views and will be open to change. Narrow ideologues are not leaders except to the few who hold their views. We need vision, integrity and real leadership in this country. Integrity allows for one to change their mind. Ideology does not.

Gail
Bob Rae is only promoting his wildest dreams. He had a chance to help out Ontario and spent the taxpayers money into oblivion believing the government could fix everything. Big government equals big disaster. Go Harper!

proud conservative
Paul,
It was the Liberals that put our country billions of dollars in debt. It was Liberals that promised to get rid of the gst when they were elected. It was the liberals and the nep program that put people out of their houses in the west.It was the Liberals that had a surplus of billions of dollars of OUR money. It was the liberals that have yet to pay back millions of dollars that were taken from US.I can see how this is going to play out already. Harper is going to cater to the west(wasn't he born in Ontario). That is the Liberals for you. Let's play all the provinces against each other.Man I hope that doesn't work this time.And I really resent being called a war monger because I am Conservative.GIVE IT UP ALREADY WITH THE SCARE TACTICS.

Don in BC
Having kept records of my paycheques over the years, my taxes have gone down under the conservatives, now entering retirement they are lower than before with the income splitting they brought in. My GST is lower. Too me taxes are down. Our problems are a lot to do with the US economic problems of bad Bush policies. Their country is in the worst mess I've every seen and as a neighbour we are effected unfortunately.

my take on this
Dion is accessible. Harper hides at tory functions. Harper is a far cry from a leader.

Hunter Mars
Packaging and selling Harpo like he is a caring mini van driving hockey-dad just won't hunt .
Far too much baggage of his over the top behaviour with regards to launching lawsuits against the opposition and lying through his teeth at the Cadman inquiry .
To name just two .

Jeanne
Jeanne
To Paul:

I totally agree with you, and I DO remember Mulroney the Conservative leader, nearly bankrupting us with his ridiculous policies - the 18% mortgage rates are CLEARLY one of the things that I remember.

I will be voting for our Liberal candidate in Don Valley - he is new and is taking the place of John Godfrey - but I fully intend to vote for him - and I know many others share my thoughts. We do NOT want a Conservative sweep - and I can guarantee you, Harper won't get one.

MM
Taxing the trusts was necessary???????? Uh, NO it wasn't. What was necessary was to have a government evaluate the corporations converting to trusts and prevent further companies from converting to trusts. Certainly not destroy the corporations that already became trusts. Anyhow this goes much deeper into just taxing the trusts. It is a simple fact that this government told the people they would not tax trusts to get elected and then taxed them. They told a bold face lie. So who do you really trust? This Harper government?

Pat
The mantra of "He's Right Wing = Bad" is a dandy.

Keep in mind that it's the Left Wing governments of the planet that have killed off their own people in almost every instance known. For the good of the state of course.

NotImpressed
When you get long time heavy hitters like Solberg and Hearn along with new "star" aquisitions like Emerson quiting the party it indicates something is amiss.

I think there is some definite eye rolling from conservatives about Harper's decision to unilateraly call an election in a way that many people see as a corruption of the accountability intent of the much touted election law.

Then to preface the election call with more than 8 billion dollars in "drunken sailor spending" (Harper's own words from a previous campaign used to describe sudden and generous government spending at the eve of an election) including a bailout of a specific industry (something his own finance minster recently pronounced as not the correct way to support industry) leaves them in the uncomfortable position of lacking credibility by not supporting their own policies.

I don't forsee a big change in the next election...

There'll be another minority government and a whole lot of wasted money, including everything spent to prepare for the by-elections that will not happen.

Adrian from BC
Bob Rae predicted NDP success when he was premier of Ontario.

"My reality has no illusions."- JFK, 1961


LOL

He is why I no longer live in Ontario.

CC-Western Canada
PREDICTION: The Liberals and NDP will become one party within ten years. It is obvious that since Trudeau, there has been an overwhelming desire for the Liberal Party of Canada to turn more into a socialist party. The "right leaning" Liberals will turn to the Conservatives, as they even kno that their party has gone off the tracks. In turn the Green Party will become #3. It will be much more balanced and we won't have as many minority govenments. The Liberal Party that was once proud and great has lost so much credibility as the centre party, and now it's time to pay the piper. Unless the left becomes one, they will be out of power a very long time. As far as Rae...just look at his sorry record!!!

Steve Daly
To the folks who want to blame the Conservatives (Mulroney) for the state of the Canadian public purse before it was 'cleaned up' by the Liberals...

It was a Liberal, Pierre Elliot Trudeau, who ran the country into accelerating debt. The Liberal policies put into place during that era caused so much debt that it was growing even as austerity measures were put into place. This happened during a period of marked spending on programs that are not core Federal responsibility, and all the while some core responsibilities were ignored or under funded (ie Defence).

Mulroney gave us Fred Trade, controversial but effective, as a way of growing the Canadian tax base by expanding the access into the US market. He also gave us the GST, hated but effective, as a way of raising money for a cash strapped public purse. Canadians started to be weaned off handouts so that money could be redirected to core responsibilities.

In comes Chretien and Martin... money raised through Conservative programs is redirected to non-core programs while core responsibilities are allowed to whither. The fictional 'Budget Surplus' exists only because that money isn't being spent on things that are supposed to be funded. The country is left with a shortfall of capability and hundreds of billions of dollars wasted on things that never should have been funded by a Federal Government.

Repeatedly the Liberals have very nearly destroyed this country... never again.

Bill
The Harper Conservatives DO NOT deserve to be the next government of Canada. They have ignored the serious issues that affect Canadians for over 2 years now. Harper is showing in this election by trying to win by the "cult of personality" method (similar to what the Republican McCain is doing in the States) that he and the Conservatives have no interest in REAL issues that affect REAL Canadians.The Conservatives repeatedly denied that the Global Economic Crisis would affect Canada. Everything was going to be rosy because we were somehow "insulated" from the financial havoc occurring south of the border. While the financial situation was deteriorating all around us, the Harper Conservatives told us Canada would not be affected ! So the Conservative government sat on their hands and did not act to bolster, preserve and protect our Canadian economy when they had the chance. A year later just look at manufacturing in Ontario. Look at the lumber industry in B. C. Look at the Canadian financial markets and look at the job losses that are on the rise. The Harper Conservatives know that we Canadians are headed for a very serious Recession in which many Canadians will get hurt and they want this Election over before the Canadian people "wake up" and see this Economic mess coming ! Anyone BUT the Harper Conservatives this time.

Al from Calgary
To Herb:
I save about 750-1000 per year with the 2 percent gst cut. As for the diminishing surplus Harper can always take a page out of Paul Martins book and cut transfer payments to the provinces for health and other things so in reality we can have a surplus anytime, and tell me again what your precious liberals did in their 13 yrs in power that would want me to vote for them. OH YEAH adscam, gun registery boondogle, I can go on forever but why bother in your eyes the liberals can do no wrong and Harper can do no right

LP Markham
The fact Bob Rae has been accepted as a "Liberal" goes to show how far left the Liberals have moved. They are competing with the NDP now.

It's time the Liberals get back to what they are supposed to be. Middle ground. realistic and in the actual interest of Canadians, not for socialists and nutcases.

Go Harper Go!

Ben
I gotta say, I very quickly lose my respect for politicians of any political leaning who run attack ads. Tell me what YOU will do if elected, don't fear monger and twist words. I am capable of evaluating who I vote for without these very biased ads.

cp.
Think about it.
Stephane Dion a leader??? It is obvious that he could care less about the west; Quebecers can't stand him and his own party is trying to get rid of him.
As far as comparing my taxes from a Liberal government to the current one, well I am seeing more money coming my way under the Conservatives than the Liberals. I am not seeing my tax paying dollars going to Liberal buddies and for golf courses in Quebec.
You also want to talk about Liberal leadership? Well lets look at Trudeau who divided the country, Chretien who robbed from it and Stephane Dion who wants to economically destroy it through Carbon Tax. Throw in the fact that their "Star" candidates: Bob Rae devistaed the Ontario economy while he was Premier (Remember that my Ontario friends?). Another "star" candidate that spent the majority of the last 30 years in the US - WOW what a leadership team.

Jim
I think that the Liberals have a chance to govern again. It's too close to call but based on the recent poll numbers the Liberals are stronger in Ontario and Quebec. It's important to get out and vote!

Dave
"Raymond"

Agree with you 100%

I remember before Rae was elected that as Union members we were pushed into having $10 a month of our union dues given to the NDP.

Rae come to our union meeting just before the election and promised real reform and tax cuts to working Canadians and acknowledged all the financial help the workers such as us had given him....

Two weeks after being elected he increased personal income tax at the provincial level to the point it cost everyone in that union hall $2000 a year

Really sorry,Rae Baby!

Some of us don't forget!

Instead of changing parties,try a name change and grow a beard...Might work!

Steve James
Outside of Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and the Maritimes, is there any support for the Liberals at all?

Bye bye Liberals. hello Harper majority.

Well deserved I would like to add.

Jenn
It's so funny how every one complains, yet only aproximately 60% of eligible voters will show up on election day. Put your money where your mouth is and make your vote count!!! Instead of whining over who is best and who is worse, show up on election day so that Canada can be truely represented by what the voters really want.

Dayton
Edmonton John, are you inspired by a mere shaking of ones hand? I've listened to Dion's message but have yet to hear for every dollar his Tax,shift, grab takes out of the west he will put it right back into the west!!! This does not inspire me one bit. He's trying to rip this country apart with these ridiculous plans and he's a leader? Of what? We know the east is hurting economically but when the shoe was on the other foot in the early 80's we never heard a peep about shifting the burden from the east to the west not one peep!!!

mcduff
conservatives have cut taxes and the GST since coming to power....when was the last time the liberals cut taxes?....never?....and Dion is running on the platform of green shift (a massive tax increase policy)....seems the liberals will never figure it out..... you can not tax your way to prosperity...remember the liberal inspired gun registry?.....it'll only cost 1 million dollars they said....2 BILLION dollars later it was thankfully killed by the tories

Bee
I suppose Bob Rae would like to bankrupt the rest of Canada the way he did Ontario. It took Ontario years to recover from his economic/social policies.

Heck, why not just vote for the communist party - you can hardly tell the difference between them and the Liberals now anyway.

Herb
To Al from Calgary:

I can assure you, I am not a Liberal. I'm not affiliated with any party--they are all in the pocket of big business interests. While I do have issues with Dion's plan (a cynical step no better than a Harper stunt), I have even greater concerns about Harper's agenda, which is to: 1-bankrupt the government so that it can no longer afford to provide services (this is how Conservatives get countries out of programs), and 2--integration with the US. This is long-term, but he has already worked behind the scenes to align our foreign policy with that of the US. His hawkish nature plays well in Washington.

Ed from St.Catharines
Rae has always been delusional going back to the NDP days of Ontario in the early 90's. This kind of useless banter is nothing new. The fact is, most people cannot figure out where Dion stands because we can't understand what he says half the time, and frankly, no one is listening to Layton anymore. The Tories WILL win- it's just a question of whether it will be a mojority or a minority. Here's hoping for the former!

Northern Ontario Citizen
Tough cookie? Watch the cookie crumble duuring this election!!! NDP has no realistic economic policy. The best way to fight poverty is to protect and advance the economy, then parents have jobs to feed and cloth their children. Surprised good old Bob Rae isn't offering a free lunch again.

Harry
For those conservatives who keep talking about taxing us to death, Global warming is here. You can't hide from it. We as a nation should be working hard on the development of alternatives to the burning of fossil fuels and could be a world leader in the new economics of the future. The Green shift may not be the ideal solution. It appears to be a work in progress but it is all we have right now. Stephen Harper still belives that Global warming is a figment of someones imagination. We have to look at what type of world on country are we going to have for our children.

BW
Not Garry Larson
I don't get how some people think that the Liberals are going to "tax us to death." Weren't we paying less tax at the end of Paul Martin's run as Finance Minister than we were when he started?

NO, taxes are now lower than they were under the Liberals. Check your facts!!!

Reece
Now there is rumours swirlling that the neo-cons are going to legalize deficit spending. Here we go again...it's like Mulroney all over again. Bribing the taxpayer in order to stay in power. Just like Bush & the Americans, we will AGAIN face a deficit and mounting debt. Why is that? They promised fixed date elections and appeared to support the law that prevents deficit spending but here we have one promise broken and the deficit law getting ready to be turfed.

10 years of Chretien surpluses will now be a wasted effort. Here comes the mounting debts...thanks neo-cons.

KC
IT Manager; why did you say the libs would "bankrupt Canada"? PM Chretien turned Canada around and posted surplus budgets for 10 years. We were on the road to debt-free Canada within 20 years. Now that the Conservatives are back in power, we are again flirting with deficit spending with Harper gearing towards removing the deficit spending laws. How could you say what you just did? Do you believe that PM Chretien for even ONE YEAR posted a deficit? Now ask yourself: How much debt did Mulroney add to the federal debt? Why is that? How much debt did the republicans add to the American debt? How many TRILLION?

Get your facts straight and stop misleading Canadians. Stand on your own merits instead of creating fiction. Fiction is created when people are ashamed of their record.

Me
If Canadians vote Harper back in, then we deserve what we get. He's a Bush boy, and we can see where Bush has taken the US...up a creek without a paddle. Harper is no leader, he's a follower of the Bush Administration. It's time for a change, the Conservatives screwed us, the Liberals screwed us, the NDP screwed us...WE pay their overinflated salaries and we get the left overs. Too bad there isn't a party around looking out for the little guy and not just blowing a lot of hot air, or using smoke and mirrors to cover up their true intentions...to screw us.

BW
Kate
"I don't think that Canada can afford another Harper term. Clearly he only thinks about what is best for the west". What has he done that is only good for the WEST? If your going to make a statement like that back it up with something credible!!

"He isn't concerned about the environment and he panders to big business and the oil companies". Last i checked the Liberals haad 13 years and did NOTHING. But that obviously doesn't matter.

"A mini George Bush"? I think most Canadians recognise the P.M. as a strong leader. Mr. Dion would be smart to take a page out of his book and start trying to be more DECISIIVE.

Dave Barr
Dion was elected leader of the Liberals because the two main contenders wouldnt allow their egos to get out of the way, not because of any great ability or vision on his part!! And after stumbling around for two years he has decided to roll the dice on his Green Shift plan, even though it is an administrative nightmare, does nothing to solve the greenhouse gas problem, and simply spreads money around from one group of people to another, which allows him to punish one part of the country to benefit another!! Do you really think if the roles were reversed and Quebec was the oil producing province, that he would be willing to do the same thing?? Dion has been known to be very stubborn and more of a "dictator" than Harper is accused of being, and he is leading the rest of his party off the cliff with his ultra left wing and confused ideas!! Am sure most of his party candidates are holding their noses and hoping he doesnt lead them to complete disaster!!

James
The CPC PR. team have done a good job spending money outside of an election to put Harper in front of us.

But I wonder what the next 4 weeks will bring when their spending will be limited and the opposition shows us the promises made, promises broken and the total mismanagment of the economy by Harper and Flaherty.

Then we'll see the real polling numbers in the only poll that counts and I doubt the CPC will have the 38 to 28% lead they had in the last insignificant poll.

James.
Craig in Calgary do you know any unsuccessful Doctors? I know lots of them, and none are unsuccessful.

The issue is not their success, the issue is that there aren't enough of them. And that comes down to Federal and Provincial governments to fund the universities to train the doctors we need. So Jack has it right.

Justin
Ya, a new leader!!
The liberals will lose seats and Dion will get the boot.

bunny
Poor Mr Rae.Anyone remember Rae days. I wonder if he truly believes what he is saying, my guess would be no.

Bozz
If Canada ever faced a real crisis, who would you rather see in charge? Trusting Dion to get us through a crisis would be like trusting my six year old to drive me to the grocery store.

H from AB
Thanks Bob, I've had my laugh for the day!

Dane
The Liberal party is no longer Canada's Natural governing party, I predict a Conservative Majority. We will see over the next twenty years a more competitive election system. Thye two main parties the Conservatives and Liberals will play on a more even field. Right now what democracy needs is 8 years of Conservative Majorities. That is the amount of time it will take to finally get an elected Senate and an elected Judiciary.

DougD
Paul

The thing about this forum is someone like you can post without having to back up their statements. I bought my house in 1982 at 15% mortgage. The Conservatives were elected in 1984 - how can that be? Do you not recall John Turner, the successor to Trudeau (the father of western alienation), chuckling that "they left the cupboards bare" for Mulroney's government?

After years of Liberal deficits, it was the Conservatives that set the country back on track.

ike
Liberals will lose big in this election. I predict a conservative majority. Please, Bob, get a reality check.

IT manager in Toronto
Paul! Mulroney didn't set mortgage rates. Bush didn't tell people to borrow 100% of the equity to buy their house.The banks lent the money to anyone with a heart beat! Anyone that would do that is an idiot!!Now your surprised there is a mortgage crisis in the U.S? The liberals ran big surpluses because they were overtaxing us.Harper gave the money back therefore causing smaller surpluses. What you are really saying is you would rather run big surpluses because you think the liberals know how to spend our money better than we do.Wake up and take economics 101.

LF
After what Bobrae did to Ontario as premier, he wouldn't know a good leader even if one bit him you know where!

Kevink (Montreal)
I think Bob Rae is equivalent to one of those Canadian Idol contestants that thinks they can sing when in fact they cannot. He will cry after the people vote - just like those Idol contestants who don't qualify.

Quote from Stephan Dion "Do you think it's easy to make priorities?"

The Liberals promised to wipe out poverty in Canada within 10 years way back when, and didn't within 13 years of ruling. Now the NDP is blaming the poverty on the Conservatives. How convenient.

Gilles
Darn it, Harper, we do not need a $300,000,000 election!

Do not ask the GG to dissolve Parliament.

What an awful waste of OUR money...sheesh...

Al from Calgary
To another view from Calgary
Maybe you shouldn't spin liberal lines. Lets see Harper changes his mind and the liberal spin is he flip flops has no integrity, has a hidden agenda etc etc and he can't be trusted, but if a liberal changes his mind its ok he is a man of integrity, so you have no problem with Harper changing his mind on the income trusts as he is in your words open to change and has integrity in doing so.

Ian Epp
In my view, Bob Rae's prediction is based on an assumption that most Canadian voters are prudent, hold high moral and ethical standards, and expect the next PM will not only listen to their real concerns and not believe merely in elevating in control and power at the expense of the larger good for Canadian public and the Canada at large.

Henry Wysmulek
If we can crush the Bloc, then I am all for this election.

Bob Rae, Dion who?

Bobby-- Brampton (Ontario)
Harper has shown the canadian people time after time hes a good leader. a Great leader if u consider what kind of an oppostion he had to deal with.

i wouldnt want to be in harpers shoes dealing with a french loyalest that only cares about quebec, a commie, and a flip flopping clown id have a massive headach each and every day.

harper called on the bluff of the opposition and now they cry wolf, lets see how well the commie, the frenchie and the clown will do in a debate.

i ask my self many times why the conservatves spent alot of its surplus and i come to realise that the surplus wasnt a real one if u cut spending of the military, take away the montey transfers to provences, and if taxes are raised on everyone that seeks a middle class income. the bloc should be very carefull if they even consider attacking harper on this because alot of that surplus went to quebec.

bob rae sees success in his party this up comming election, which is true if hes talking about the success of dismanteling the libreal party to have less seats then the Bloc.

Harper Majority 08!

RantMan
Rick in NB,

Do you think Dany Williams invented the ABC expression? I heard it during Joe Clark's leadership campaign 25 years ago.
Did Williams patent ABC? LOL. (I just patented LOL so nobody else can use it - LOL)

DOA

D-ion's
O-ur
A-pocalypse

BCgeorge
ABCD, simple as 1234


A - Anybody
B - But
C - Carbon Tax
D - Dion


Need WE say more!!!!!

Robert
Monsieur Dion should be concerned about Rae and Ignatief - they can hardly wait for him to fall on his sword.

juli
people complain about Bob Rae but he is doing a good job. You're crazy to vote for a Conservative majority, what about poor people

M. Cameron
I'd rather vote Liberal over Conservative but I don't even like the idea of Dion as our Prime Minister. Vote NDP!

Mike Young
Man If Dion and Super Bob get power we just as well empty our bank accounts sell our car.We will be taxed to hell,heaven,and anywhere they can chase us to.Nope I pick the lesser of two idot's.Is the Liberal party the same as the one in the past that condemmed the NDP for going to Tax us to death.Oop's sorry the Lib's will Tax us into the next Life.

out west
Dion is disliked in his own home province and the Green Shaft will make him hated out west, fueling the Western separation movement.

A vote for a Liberal is a vote for a separatist.

GHW
If the Liberals win in Canada and the Republicans win in the U.S. I’ll eat my shorts.

Patricia
The GG should put an end to this Harper farce once and for all. Tomorrow she should put her foot down and tell Harper to go away as he is asking for an illegal election. He is breaking a law of his own making. Then the GG should ask the opposition to form the government and let us all get on with our lives. Harper is delusional and arrogant to think that he can get away with anything and everything. These characteristics are not appropriate for a Prime Minister of Canada.

John G
"Don in BC" I'm sure for your situation you might be right; however, I'm retired and I was preparing to draw on my RRSP. However with "income trust", the market woes, inflation, I find it hard to cheer for any political party. My RRSP has decreased by 17% over the last ten months. I'm still doing okay but I find it getting tighter financially.
Many would agree with you that the GST cut was good however I wish the government would have reducted the personal income tax instead. They did reduce it by .5% be only to off set the .5% increase during the first Con budget. I wish the govt had kept GST at 7% collect the surplus and during these tough time could be more selective in tax benefits and more directly influencing these areas of our econmy. Once the economy improved they could once again paydown the debt. Again for your situation the current govt approach is right for you. For me it's not so rosy. Would the liberal do any better now that Paul Martin is gone. I'm not sure. I've looked at the green shift plan and I've yet to see where it will harm me directly, but I'm not sure yet. Good luck on the retirement, it would be interesting to see if your views stay the same after you're retired for a few years. Again Good Luck.

fitzz
RAE's thoughts on just about anything are more than scary. From the time of his first "success" as a University of Toronto student politician to his undistinguished tenure as Ontario's premier, he has been a complete disaster! Anyone here old enough to remember RAE days?

Should his party gain any influence (power) and he occupy any position within it - I'd say bring on the anarchists!

Trev
Ontario is the only province that pays into equalization payments that is given to the ohter provinces. Harper screwed up with that one. Ontario will remain red and Quebec will remain blue (Parti-Quebecois blue that is). Harper at best will form a minority government, but it doesn't seem likely he will even do that. So, it's the Liberals that will be in. Sure Dion isn't the best, but I would rather have someone in there that doesn't know what he's doing as opposed to living in a dictatorship which is what we have now.

Sup tech
I agree 100% with Bob.
As i voted NDP last election(Libs needed a spanking),this election i plan on rejoining the Liberal fold.
Harper and his Reform party are scarin the %$#@ out of me.

John Harris
John from London:
In fairness to Mr. Rae, he doesn't say the liberals will form the next government. I doubt he believes they will. Perhaps he considers success will be retaining official party status! The real knee-slapper reported here is Ann McGrath's position that the NDP's leader could be elected prime minister.

PartyHater
Voting for an independent candidate eliminates the candidate's allegiance to a party, the party's whip and the party's strongman. An independent MP works on behalf of his riding much more than someone who has to obey the party line and who must jump mighty high when the party strong man comes calling. I say vote "independent" and get better representation all round. An independent MP can pick and choose to support the legislation that best suits the concerns of his(her) riding. No party police can tell him(her) how to vote in parliament. The independent candidate takes his(her) running orders only from the people in the riding. That is the way it should be. Otherwise, it is a bunch of unelected hacks in the PMO who ultimately determine how elected party members shall vote. That is not democracy.

AJ
What does Bob Rae mean by "successful"? Rae was a member of the NDP and I just don't trust him. He was also the premier of Ontario and brought in the largest deficit budget in the province's history. The "tough cookie" Dion will crumble despite his lack of weaknesses, as Rae see it. I hope the does. His Green Shaft will be the reason. He even sounds like a commie with his talk of "social justice".

Don in NB
Rae should be distancing himself from the Bumbling Dion camp. Maybe replace that hayseed Layton next time around with the socialists where he belongs!!

Steve
All the parties of Canada have significant flaws and weaknesses. The Conservatives are not as sensitive to social programs, the Liberals cant keep thier hands out of Canadians pockets, the NDP are so out of touch with Canadians we are tuning them out, the Bloc want to donate the entire Canadian economy to Quebec, and the Green party want to radically change the country resulting in bankruptcy and dissolution of our way of life. The question you have to ask yourself is of all the flaws in our Parties which one is going to best represent Canada, which one is the most capable of leading us through turbulent times, fiscally, and globally? Personally I'm voting Conservative they have the strength and vision to carry us through.

JoeK Brantford.on
Bob Rae does not know which
party to support.He is still a NDP`er with mixed contaminated Liberal blood.
Bob Rea is out to serve himself less the Liberal party.

Niagara George
Some people say the NDP has hijacked the Liberal party, because of Bob Rae. They conveniently forget that the true highjack in Canadian politics was when some disenchanted Progressive Conservatives left that party and formed the Reform Party. The next thing we knew they came back as the Alliance and highjacked the PC party right out from under Peter McKay, after McKay had promised he would never allow that to happen.

Talk about weak leadership... Peter McKay is the untimate example!

Harper and the other neo-cons knew they could never be elected on their own, so they had no choice but to destroy the PC's. Now they present themselves as a continuation of Canada's conservative heritage.

Do not be fooled, by their name. Do not be fooled by cuts in the GST. Someone has to pay for all our new military, our presence in the Arctic and everything else Harper promises. If you and I don't pay for it today, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will, many tomorrows from now.

One more example of how we are being Americanized.

Mike R.
It's hard to believe all those defending Chretien. Multi-billion dollar surpluses are just over taxation, pure and simple. Should we go into the red - no. But overtaxing is not the answer either.

PrairieDog
All the people saying to check the facts about the Conservatives..saying that people who support them are neo-cons and comparing Harper to Bush, should really take a look at the TRUE facts. We in Canada live a far more socialist country than the US. Harper's policys for the most part are still more LEFT leaning than even Obama. To put our countries on the same political scale is ridiculous. The US actually knows what democracy is. So please, comparing Harper to Bush is a scare tactic that Harper has proven BS. Dion is essentially going to tax the citzens of Canada for using the energy they need to survive. In doing this, he offers no alternative to those needs. Then says we must "think of the people of Canada". This is outrageous to me and should be to all other Canadans. The NDP says they stand for the working man/woman. They stand for a complete nanny state. Tax and spend. Period!
I hope that the people of Canada realize that we finally have a leader that makes us a true member of the world community!

Angry in the West...
To Paul:
You need a history lesson my friend. It was not Mulroney who caused the 18% interest rates it was Trudeau and his NEP program that caused the recession of the early 80's. If Dion is elected we in the west can expect the same again under the "Green Shift"

Richard D
Herb:

Are you kidding me? Do you seriously believe what you wrote, or are you just spewing whatever pops into your head in the hopes of getting a reaction?

1. Where did you ever get the impression that Harper is out to bankrupt the government? That is absolute rubbish. No party, whether Conservative, Liberal, or NDP, ever goes into power in order to bankrupt the country.

2. Integration with the US is even more outlandish than deliberately trying to bankrupt the country. Aligning some (note: some) foreign policies with the US does not equal integration. It's called trying to streamline lines of trade and communication with our biggest trading partner and closest ally so that we aren't slammed by protectionist policies in Washington.

It's time to take off the tin foil hat.

True Alberta RedNeck
I think Rae is just getting ready to switch to yet another party. But he does make some sense, As long as the rest of Canada is held hostage to Ontario and Quebec, and Parlimentary seats are not redistributed anything goes. In away would be nice to see the Liberals win - from Manitoba west we could separate and then without transfer our payments, our oil and gas, see how far the Liberals in Ontario and Quecbec can make a go of their socialist empire. Would hate to see the hardship on the New Brunswick etc. - but Ontario and Quebec deserves everything that they can get for the 70 years of Liberal rule and the ruination of our Canada.

Justin - Is the Liberal Party a Joke or What
Dion can't get credit with a credible Airline. His Campaign may never get off the ground.
A 1979 gas guzzling plane, great example Dion. How big of a joke are the Liberals becoming???

Michael (Ottawa)
What has Bob Rae been smokin' lately?

Mr. Dion has started his disparate ideological attack in which he foolishly accuses Mr. Harper of being “more right-wing than John McCain.” How lame is that?

This worn out Liberal tactic comparing Mr. Harper to the Republicans is old news. Unfortunately a few misguided supporters who drank the Kool Aid still buy the empty rhetoric.

Mr. Harper has in fact and deed proven himself to be a populist “center of the road” leader and Prime Minister.

Adam
Good Lord... can anything else go wrong for Mr. Dion? Image, language and an apparent complete lack of political acumen have combined to create one of the weakest candidates for leadership in a long, long time. Mr. Dion makes Joe Clark look like Theodore Roosevelt! Mr. Dion probably belongs in an obscure liberal arts faculty at a quiet university far, far away from the public eye. Leadership, at least the appearance of it, is a necessary virtue for those seeking to become the Prime Minister of Canada.

Mr. Flip FLop
Bob Rae is a nice guy but his politics just stink! He spent too much time in academia.

Speaking of flip flops, when the libs go down again due to Stephane D'Yawn will Bob switch next time to the Conservatives?

Canadians are fed up with footing the bill for party switching career politicians.

HckStck
If its going to be about the economy think about -

Then
PetroCan sold Conservative
NAFTA no jobs Conservative
GST 7%+inflation Conservative

Now
Barrel of oil at $106 from $140+ in just two weeks and the pump price is still at 1.35. Steven Harpers' way of taking a lump sum for Ottawa and giving a hefty chunk back to Alberta.

Us - Take back Canada one post at a time!

I'm voting NDP
IT manager in Toronto:

Liberal governments = budget surpluses and social welfare programs.

Conservative governments = corporate tax cuts and increases in taxes to the working poor.

dale worsfold
the poll asked who will be missed the most?

david emerson

loyola hearn

monte solberg

unfortunately you left out one choice - none of the above.

Don
I see the Conservative sheep have come out to graze again.

There Koresh like devotion to a failed and flawed leader is sad.

THe economy is about to tank, the Cons are drowning in scandal and what's left of Stephen Harper's credibility is about to go poof when he breaks his own law and calls an election tomorrow.

Leave the key under the mat at 24 Sussex, Steve. I hope you kept the place nice for the Liberals.

Dan
Steven Harper's warm side??? HA HA HA HA HA. Maybe they should be showing the video clip of him shaking hands with his young son instead of hugging him - how cold is that! Any man afraid of hugging his own children is one with personal issues too big to be leader of my country.

Hal
For the NDP to say that the Federal liberals are responsible for a doctors shortage displays their total lack of understanding of the problem OR they are just playing politics and think that the voters are stupid.
Every smart voter knows that Healthcare is a provincial responsibility and guess what, in Ontario its anther smoke and mirror issue that spineless/witless/useless Dinky Dalton Mcguinty is responsible for. (THE LIAR)
Fellow voters, please see through this crap and vote conservative both federal and provincial. Dion, Layton and Dinky Dalton lie! They think you are stupid!
It's time for the silent majority to speak up so please vote in the next election and send these losers a leason. I can't believe we pay these guys?

RRR
RRR
To Jeanne

Please tell me how you are going to "guarantee" that Harper does not get a majority.
I want to know how this is done.

okanogan rob
Mr. Rae has clearly become completely detached from reality if he thinks Dion is going to give the Liberal party the leadership they need to win an election. The Liberals current leadership is weak and too left wing for anyone who respects their own country. I wish them only humiliating defeat.

James Givens
John G.

If in fact your RRSP has dropped 17% as you are about to retire, may I make a couple of suggestions.

1. If you manage your own money, seek professional advice from an advisor.

2. If you already have an advisor, fire him/her as they are incompetent to have you in such an aggressive portfolio within 12 months of your retirement.

As a CFP myself, my retired clients are mostly making money this year. Those that aren't are down 2% at worst. They certainly aren't losing their shirts.

Geoff in Lethbridge
What the NDP and Liberals fail to understand is that corporations don't pay corporate taxes. They pass it on to consumers -- us, the public -- in the form of higher prices. So we pay the corporate taxes.

Where do we as consumers pass our tax costs on? Nobody. Nor can we upload our share of corp taxes to anyone.

And these two parties and the Conservatives fail to understand that the true cost-effective way to provide daycare is to make it feasible for one spouse to stay home if that is the couple's choice. I don't want a government paid daycare spot for my kids.

Daniel
As much as i have supported the Liberals in the past, I have to say that Harper isn't doing too bad at all. He is a good leader and has kept our country moving in a good direction. Sure, gas is going up, but so is everything else, everywhere in the world. Hate to say it, but I might have to vote Conservative this time around, they're doing too good of a job to give them the boot.

Baba Booey
"It's hard to believe all those defending Chretien. Multi-billion dollar surpluses are just over taxation, pure and simple. Should we go into the red - no. But overtaxing is not the answer either."

If the economy was growing and we were paying down the debt that much faster I fail to see how that was a bad thing. I was far from a Chretien fan so imagine my surprise when I find myself missing those days. . .

I wonder how Harper is going to keep Preston Manning out of the media. Seeing him again will remind too many people that this is the Reform party.

John Duffy
I honestly hope that the Governer General turns down Harper. He wanted the law brought into being that we have a set date for elections. His government has not had a No Confidence vote against it. Where does he get off spending more of our tax dollars and going against his own laws... Give me a break...

NO ELECTION.................

Benny Guan
Wow I think Stephen Harper is a good PM.I hope he gets the win in the election. The plans of the agenda Stephane Dion and Jack Layton have are alright but I just don't their plans because they don't give enough detials about their trying what to do and attcking Stephen Harper on his plans might not work. I like the way Canada is now cause Stephen Harper is still a very good leader for Canada. I think more people in Canada will vote for Conservatives cause they like the way it is right now. But I think there will be some people that will want change in Canada is that is good too.

Hanley
A couple of things:

ABC, for me, stands for Anything But Conservative

..and lest we forget the Cadman affair, the Bernier both-up, Rona Ambrose and her environment disaster, Bev Oda as Arts Minister, not giving a hoot about the Arts....and neither does the current Minister. And my favourite, Tony Clement. You really should read his bio on Wikipedia. Ha!

Everyone is ganging up on Rae...what about the soon to be departed Emerson?

While I'm on my rant...remember Harper shaking his kids hand on his first day of school awhile back? Now he's a public hugger...give me a break!

Lower the GST by 2%..big deal!

And to top things off, the Cons were not in deficit shape when they took office....we are close to deficit...and will probably be in deficit shape with all the money those goofs are handing out.

Look in your history books at some of the past great leaders. Not all of them led in the best of directions.

Happy feeding frenzy, people!

JP
@Alberta Redneck.
Ontario doesn't receive transfer payments from Alberta...never have, never will. Get your head out of the oil.
Anyway, it's Quebec's proximity to Ontario that sways Ontario votes...given time for Quebec or "The West" to separate, I would think Ontario would side with the west.
On the other hand, Ontarian's are generally happy people, feel good about supporting the vast bulk of the transfer payment scheme (no, we don't support all that much in Alberta), and Ontarian's also actually LIKE Canada, travelling across it, and aren't phobic of people who live further than 25km from where they grew up. Ontario wouldn't be happy about ANYBODY separating. If more provinces were like Ontario, we would have the most patriotic country in the world, bar-none.
Meanwhile...a faction of western psuedo-convervatives-cum-ultra-socialists want to turn Alberta into the next Saudi Arabia...SMART!!!!!

Vern Barke
I am from Calgary, center of the conservative universe. I think the opposition is a joke but just I can't bring myself to vote for the conservatives for following reason;

On Friday, May 26, 2006 Mr. Harper said.

"Fixed election dates prevent governments from calling snap elections for short-term political advantage," Harper said. "They level the playing field for all parties and the rules are clear for everybody."
"But fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar simply for partisan political advantage."

You broke your word and now you are preparing to break the Law.

Calgarians and other Canadians aren't buying into your slick political ads.

James Tod from Vancouver
I guess if I had a pile of broken promises to run on I would grasp at any straws too.

I would rather support a party with real ideas, than one that says one thing and then does the exact opposite. That's called Harper politics.

Steve
A 1979 Vintage Boeing 737 - a very noisy extremely fuel inefficent airliner. Lucky for the Liberals the carbon tax is not law as the bills to fuel this old plane could drain the party coffers quickly. Why aren't the parties using Canadian built Bombardier CRJ's?

Bob in SW Ont
For those Canadians following the US Presidential Election and the issues/platforms on which the two parties are campaigning, I see many close parallels.
Harper=McCain and the Republicans; Dion=Obama and the Democrats. Watch carefully!!

Proudly Conservative
All you Liberals and NDPs who keep touting the virtues of Federal Surpluses - are you so ignorant that you don't know that those surpluses are your tax dollars? Why would you want the government to have more of your money than they need to effectively run this country and pay down a reasonable amount of our debt?

And while we're on the subject of the government debt - due to the drunken, delusional spending of Liberal Trudeau - I'd love to be able to identify all those who kept the Liberal's Trudeau in power and have them make significant contributions to pay down our debt - thanks to those folks, my son will be paying for their idiotic decisions for the rest of his life - and he's only a teenager now.

I'd take the Conservatives over the Liberals any day of the week!

Rob from the 'Peg
Why would anyone think the best way to punish Harper is by voting in the Liberals? Harpers not a perfect leader by any stretch of the imagination but right now I don’t see any better alternative for this country. However if change is what you feel you need to do to punish the Conservatives for calling an early election then by all means go right ahead. But keep in mind the next thing you'll feel is the Liberal's hand in your wallet relieving you of your hard earned cash to pay for their poorly conceived and Green Shift plan. Saving the planet is a great idea but on a personal level how much are you willing to pay for? Just asking.

Michael
Hal
Bob Rae is responsible for the doctor shortage in Ontario right now.Fact...he gave University of Toronto billions because they promised to downsize the number of med students. Don't let Lib-socialists get their fingers in health care.

Too many commenters here allow the media to shape their mind. Making glib statements about Prime Minister Harper reflects that.
Why did the media give the Libs an easy time for sitting on their hands and not voting in the HoC? The Libs have been afraid of an election for 2 years even tho Dion threatened many time to vote against the government.
For those constituents that have Libs in the HoC...they just laughed at you for 2 years...did not 'represent' you, and wasted time and tax money by getting paid to do nothing.
I'd rather have decisiveness and backbone.
CPC Majority!!

Proud Conservative
All you posters criticizing Harper for shaking his son's hand - clearly you know nothing about parenthood. One children, especially boys, get to a certain age - it's just plain embarrassing to have your dad or mom hug you in front of other kids.

You Liberals and NDPs are really getting desperate.

Wes
Green shift? 1979 loud gas guzzler. Yeah a carbon tax would be great for the liberals right about now. The whole idea of the green shift is social engineering. It would make people shy away from these things (only rich people get to pollute), so I guess if the plan had been implimented the liberals wouldn't have a plane this time around.

HowComeBairdHasAdsIfTheElectionIsn'tOfficialyOnYet
"lets see how well the commie, the frenchie and the clown will do in a debate" Bobby in Brampton

Umm - I guess the Reform - er Unprogressive Conservative Party shows it's true colors (that's 'colors' without a 'u' since they're crazy right-wing like Bush and his counterparts)

BLA BLA BLA
What a waste of tax payers money like an election will ever change the poor state of affairs our govermental system is in. Dion, when pigs fly , Liberal , yeah whatever, and Harper lets repeat another bad term. It does not matter who wins is all a crock and I'm fed up with it all.

John Quigg
Holy moly!

Sherif
Socialism is dead. The Canadian people need to move on and realize that decades of socialism has ruined this country, we need to follow the lead of other western countries who are voting in conservative governments or we will be left behind.
Canada is enjoying international prominence like never before, which would have never happened under a leftist government, people need to realize that only the Conservatives want to see Canada play a major role in the world, unlike the leftists who would rather spend their time over taxing and over spending on their utopian socialist programs.

Canuckistani
Harper is making a bad move.
He's surrounded by incompetents who have been uable to throw off their protest party cloaks in favour of governing ones. The debates and miscues by this band of merry men and women will finally be his undoing. Challenge him on Quebec and dig for what deals he has made....

Frank
Jeanne,
Remember those sweet good-old Trudeau years ,with those 22% mortgage rates ,and the liberal arrogance that still lives on to this day. I guess they still think they are the only god capable of saving Canada's soul.God bless Steven Harper ,and God bless Canada

Chris
Now there is where we need carbon credits, a thirty year old plane. But they are leasing it from a company in the far north. At least they are supporting our northern friends. You know how much fuel that burns though. Bad optics for the carbon crusader.

Chris
I thought Bob Rae started his career as a Liberal, saw oportunity and fliped to the NDP, ferderally and then went on to destroy Ontario because even though they talk brave the most shocked person in Ontario was Bob Rae the night that the protest vote happened, oh that protest was against a liberal goverment. So I think that going around in circles depending on the wind, really is why his feet are ready for this election

Shankar-Mississauga,Ont.
Why waste money on election. We should use this money to make the country more green.

I don't see a reson for aa other election soon.

But I am not sure if I am ready to vote for Mr.Dion but not for Mr.Harper.
If Peter Mckey is seeking then I might.

So Green party might get more vores.
I love my Country.

hugh
if Layton ever became leader, it would be time for Alberta to separate from Canada

B Reynolds
Why the Carbon Tax?
Good Question!
It is possible that the Liberal Party dare not increase the G S T to gain badly needed taxes by way
of Carbon Tax. The voters
will awaken to realities if Carbon tax is to be introduced instead of increasing G S T.
I think of Bob Rae when he was NDP at Federal Level and Joe Clark was defeated in the Confidence Vote then the Liberal Govt I believe kept the 18 cents Gas tax. I am naturally wary of Carbon tax.

I hate political hyporcisy
"the Liberals are scrambling to get their plane ready -- a Boeing 737 made in 1979"

This makes Dion a total HYPOCRITE !!

These old planes produce air and noise pollution like crazy.

When it suits Dion he ignores his carbon footprint yet his Shifty policies won't get you off the hook you can be sure of that.

This goes to show what a sham the Liberal party is and what a sham their Green Shift is as well. It really ticks me off.

CMQ from the good old Ottawa valley
For someone who was going around talking about elections in the summer, Mr Dion seems very illprepared (green shafting last minute rewrite and a turfed plane. Most people who go around looking for a fight at least have there guard up and thier gloves on, not caught with their pants around their ankles. He wants us to have confidence in his leadership, give me a break!!!! Maybe Rae and his other buds kissing up can help him stumble to the finish line.... cuz he is finished....

Ian
Why does everybody keep talking about Dion's "Leadership Qualities", when he clearly has none. He won't vote against things that he says are ruining the country so obviously they're not as bad as all that. He talks a good game but never puts his money where his mouth is. He has one vision and that is to focus solely on CO2. He has no plans for doing anything for the environment except taxing the crap out of us. How about cleaning our waterways or getting the smog out of the air, which is not CO2! No it's easier to jump on the David Suzuki, Al Gore bandwagon and ride it until it runs out of steam and hope that by then he'll be PM. Once in power, when the next craze comes along, he'll hitch his wagon to that and see how far it will take him. That's what the Liberals call "leadership" I guess.

Predicting a slim Conservative majority
Bob Rae has an easy run in Toronto which explains his delusion of Dion's leadership or lack thereof.

Dion could campaign on hiking the GST to 25% and the boneheads in Toronto would still vote for him.

Grant who isn't even an dipper
You people are listening to too much right wing BS radio from the States and watching too much Fox News.

The Conservatives have a terrible, terrible record at managing the economy and government spending. Look at reality not some Conservative ad.

As well, calling the modern federal NDP tax and spend socialist only exposes your ignorance, not anything about the NDP. With the exception of one bad NDP government, led by a Liberal, in Ontario, the general record of NDP governments have been of having to eliminate Conservative and Liberal deficiet spending. And even that government was handed a huge deficeit from the outgoing Liberal government.

Look up history, not some stupid ideological talking point

my take on this
John G
If the platform was right I would consider voting for the conservatives but I would never consider voting for the conservatives with Stephen Harper as their leader.

Greg in the Hammer
What is it with you people that think that government surpluses are a good thing?

Governments are not supposed to run surpluses. It's OUR MONEY. When governments run surpluses it allows them the freedom to pander to special interests outside of their core responsibilites. Thats not right.

Harper has correctly limited governments ability to collect and spend beyond its planned programs.

Liberal "surpluses" merely amounted to a slush fund to bribe us with our own money.

They still don't get it.