Canada votes in general election

October 15th, 2008 by FendyBt2


Article Source: FendyBt2 Official Website


Stephen Harper campaigning in Toronto, Ontario

Canadians go to the polls on Tuesday for their third election in four years.

The conservative prime minister Stephen Harper, who has headed a minority government since 2006, called the election to try to win a majority.

The main challenge comes from Stephane Dion of the Liberal Party, with the global markets crisis the major issue. Polls open at 0830 local (1100 GMT).

Voter surveys suggest the Conservative Party is set to win but could fail to clinch a parliamentary majority.

Canada is the first big economic power to go to the polls to elect a new government since the financial crisis.

Mr Harper called the snap election last month amid hopes in his party that they could secure a majority.

But he has come under sustained criticism amid perceptions he has not shown enough empathy with Canadians who have lost money during the upheaval on the stock markets, says the BBC’s Lee Carter in Toronto.

‘Distortion and dishonesty’

He has reworked his message to try to convince Canadians that he is the one to be at the helm of the economy in such difficult times, our correspondent says.

Stephane Dion campaigns in Richmond, British Columbia

“At this crucial moment for our economy we need a realistic and credible plan to protect our jobs, our savings, and our future,” he told a weekend rally.

Mr Dion, a French Canadian from Quebec, has been criticised as a weak leader with difficulty communicating in English.

“Stephen Harper’s agenda is one of distortion and dishonesty. He may speak better English than I do. But I speak the truth better in both official languages than him,” Mr Dion said recently.

Two of the smaller parties, the New Democrats and the Greens have seen their polling numbers rise, while the Bloc Quebecois will fight a close battle to retain its dominance in French-speaking Quebec

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation


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