Ford endorses Harper in federal election

The Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/982726--ford-endorses-harper-in-federal-election

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford endorsed Conservative Leader Stephen Harper on Friday Night while plunging into federal politics.

• The Toronto mayor and other nine of the city's Conservative candidates joined other GTA hopefuls at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton for a rally of 1000 people. One Ford adviser said that the mayor had wanted to wade into the federal fray but was told to be cautioned by his inner circle and the Tories believe that Ford can help their candidates get elected in 1 or more 6 targeted Toronto ridings. At city hall, councillors had mixed opinions on Ford's endoresment.

I think that this article is significant due to the fact that it show how Toronto's mayor Rob Ford is more than happy to endorse Stephen Harper for the election.

NDP blow past Liberals, close on Tories: The Canadian Press Harris-Decima poll

Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/ndp-blow-past-liberals-close-on-tories-the-canadian-press-harris-decima-poll-120883699.html

On a new poll NDP have soared past the Liberals and are closed in on the Conservatives

• The Canadian Press Harris-Decima survey puts Jack Layton's party solidly in second place, 5% points behind the Tories. The Conservative are at 35% support nationally with the NDP at 30% and the Liberals at 22%. The results indicate the New Democrats have doubled their supports since the campaign began mainly due to huge gains among Quebecers and women voters.

I think that this are ticle is signifcant as it shows that on my older posts it says that even though Liberals are climing through the polls they might loss support as the upcoming day for election is coming.

NDP faces tough questions as its numbers soar

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/27/ndp-faces-tough-questions-as-its-numbers-soar

NDP Leader Jack Layton is being asked with tougher policy questions as the NDP continues to surge in the polls and the party is keeping quite on communications.

• During a campaign stop in the riding of Winnipeg North on Wednesday morning, reporters continuously asked Layton questions about the party's economic policies & 2 candidates who had taken vacations during the campaign. The NDP has tightened their rains on communications strategy which left some reporters disgruntled. 
• Observers say the party wants to prevent mistakes in the final week of the campaigns before the voting next week.

I think this article is not really that important as it only talks about the NDP's being quiet and careful to not affect their votes in the polls for the last week before it is now time for voting.

Layton wants to include Quebec in Constitution:

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/26/layton-wants-to-include-quebec-in-constitution

NDP Leader Jack Layton said today that if he is elected prime minister and if ‘winning conditions’ exist in Quebec, he would open up the Constitution to include la belle province.

• Layton says that it is not an immediate concern as the top priorities are jobs, hiring doctors & boosting people’s retirement security. He also says that the ‘winning conditions’ need to be created in la belle province like replacing the Conservative government and respecting the people of Quebec before it can happen. The NDP is having a lot of support in the polls mainly in Quebec.
• Also Stephen Harper’s comment about constitutional discussions is that it is not a priority of the Canadians since our government is unstable and they do not want to waste time arguing about the Constitution. The important priorities right now for families are jobs, growth, affordable services and keeping their taxes down which is the priorities of a Conservative government not resurrecting old constitutional debates. 

I think that Stephen Harper's comment does have a point as when I think about it spending time about old constitutional debates would be a waste of time for now so Id rather that the NDP would focus more on important things for the Canadians until the government will be more stable.

Harper says Senate reform is ‘long overdue’

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/25/harper-says-senate-reform-is-long-overdue

Stephen Harper vowed on Monday that a Tory majority would begin the long & slow process of reforming Canada’s Senate.

• In the past 5 yrs of Conservative minority rule, there were repeated efforts to limit senator terms to 8 yrs & hold elections to choose who the prime minister would appoint to the Senate had all failed. Harper says that a re-elected Conservative government wouldn’t reopen the Constitution but instead would make ‘logical changes’.
• Harper says that he is trying to get authority to consult the people on naming senators in having elections so we can actually name people who have the support of the public. The Conservative would also like the Senate to follow the same ethics code as members of the House of Commons.

In my opinion even if we do hold elections there are still people who wouldn't even bother voting as they don't care or they don't know who to vote for, that's mainly one of the things I think is what affects which candidate wins an election.

Harper gives support to controversial Quebec candidate

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/22/harper-gives-support-to-controversial-quebec-candidate

Prime Minister Stephen Harper reportedly gave a clear support for the first to candidate Andre Arthur, who is running in a competition for riding near Quebec City.

• Harper announced his support through an exclusive interview with a local newspaper in Arthur’s riding of Portneuf - Jacques-Cartier, which is going to be published next Tuesday that QMI Agency has learned of. This would be the first time that Harper publicly showed support on Arthur but Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe recently criticized Arthur by saying that he was usually absent from Parliament and mocked the responsibilities of an MP.

I think this is important as it show's that whoever Harper roots for then it also reveals that he  supports whatever promises Arthur's party says whether they are good or bad.

Tories in damage control over abortion funding

The Star: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/978228--tories-in-damage-control-over-abortion-funding

An abortion-related outburst on the Conservative campaign has the Stephen Harper’s party doing damage control.

NDP Leader Jack Layton called the reports “worrying” and said his party strongly supports “a woman’s right to choose.” And implies that the Tories have a hidden agenda on abortion.

(Other Info’s):

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff returns to Montreal today, hoping to gain votes in Quebec, where Harper’s promises to Newfoundland didn’t go over too well early in the campaign.

NDP Leader Jack Layton is in Toronto, the Bloc’s Gilles Duceppe starts the day in Quebec City, and Green Leader Elizabeth May is island-hopping off the B.C. coast.

• Stephen Harper who is in Newfoundland & Labrador campaigning is expected to face questions about abortion-related comments by a Tory candidate, Brad Tory, in Saskatchewan. Tory told an anti-abortion group on the weekend that International Planned Parenthood Federation has been denied Canadian funding because it supports abortion. A Conservative spokesman Dimitri Soudas says that the Torries are willing to work with organization that are willing to work with them, such as International Planned Parenthood but did not mention whether they would receive its funding that come through the Canadian International Development Agency. Soudas also says the Harper government has no plans to re-open the debate about abortion but is now back jst 11 days before Canadians go to the polls.

I think this article is slightly important as it shows more of how the Tories party is doing and also all the other things that some of their candidates are doing at other cities.