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.

Iggy: I'm just following the rules on path to power

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/20/ignatieff-expected-to-face-questions-about-role-in-iraq-war

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff received heated words from the premier of Saskatchewan on Wednesday for the comments he made about forming a government even if his party doesn’t win the election.

• On Tuesday, Ignatieff said that if a renewed minority of Conservative government couldn’t gain the confidence of the House of Commons the governor general would have to ask another party to form a government, which the Liberals would try to do they come in second place and denied setting himself up for possible power even if the Tories win the election.

I think the article is kind of important as it shows how even if Ignatieff's party doesnt win he still will want to make their own government which shows how much he wants power and  feels like he doesnt care whether he wins or not.

Janitor alleges she was paid cash to clean PM's house:

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/2011/04/19/janitor-alleges-she-was-paid-cash-to-clean-pms-house

 An Ottawa woman claims that she was paid on cash to clean Stephen Harper’s home.

• The woman is scheduled to hold a press conference with labour representatives from Ottawa’s Justice for Janitors Council on Weds. A spokesman said that the woman was pulled of her regular site at a federal building to do cleaning at the prime minister’s residence and was paid in cash while she was there but was not paid overtime. A spokesperson for the Prime Minister’s Office said that only household staff cleans the prime minister’s house but did not comment on the allegations of the cash payment. The Ottawa Justice for janitors Council said the workers at the cleaning company that employs the woman have been trying to form a union but the company is threatening the employees to dismiss it.

The article is totally irrelevant to the election, its only about a woman that was not paid properly and was kinda forced to clean the prime minister's home.

Jack's back! Leader's popularity lifts NDP

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/17/18028216.html  
NDP’s Leader Jack Layton has good news as his party’s popularity increases, in other areas while other Parties remain in the same spot.

• The second most-popular among decided voters in Quebec and every province west of Ontario was the NDP party but the bad news is that his party’s supporters might be at risk of decreasing ahead of the May 2 vote. A new poll done during April 15 to 17, for the QMI Agency by Leger Marketing shows that Layton and the NDP party have new significant supporters, with 22% of voters up from 18% two weeks ago but when asked who would make the best prime minister 37% chose Stephen Harper with Layton 23% of votes. While in B.C. NDP is at 28% behind the Conservatives who are at 37%, still more than half or 54% of those who say they’re ready to vote NDP also said they could change their vote in the next two weeks to another party.

Opinion:
I think this article is significant as it shows which party is having more support from the people or who is lossing votes and who is in the lead of probably winning in the election.

Putting his gun on the line:

Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/portage-lisgar/Putting-his-gun-on-the-line-119936364.html

Green party candidate Matthew Friesen in Portage-Lisgar has posted an interesting blog on his website. (click for link)

• Matthew posted about him asking his supporters to stop calling Conservative Candice Hoeppner names and chastised people for them also posting things about her on twitter. He also mentions that he checked out on some of the things that were being told about her and he felt that it was cruel, vicious and personal. Also there was an earlier blog that he offered to give Hoeppner his rifle if the Conservatives follow their pledge to get rid of the gun registry by introducing it as a government bill.

Iggy tries to connect with French voters:

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/14/17998081.html

Michael Ignatieff goes to a barbecue in a town at the east of Ottawa in the riding of Glengaryy-Prescott-Russell and also at Gatineau, Quebec to try and make a French connection.

• In the article it talks about how in 2006 the riding had a half-century-long record of voting grit that was broken by Conservative Pierre Lemieux. So now Ignatieff is trying to restore the liberal’s supremacy in the riding by appealing to the community and he was also promoting his Green Renovation Tax Credit on another place in Gatineau, Quebec.
• The election that damaged the Liberal brand was about both Gatineau & Glengaryy-Prescott-Russell defying tradition by voting other parties in 2006 and this issue came up while Ignatieff was at Gatineau as he was being asked by journalists.

Auditor general's office looking at itself in leaked report case

Winnipeg Free Press: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/auditor-generals-office-looking-at-itself-in-leaked-report-case-119707259.html

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton respond about the report drafts that may have been illegal that were leaked.

• The article is about a draft report that was leaked which began after the Canadian Press was shown a copy of a Jan 11 draft report on a $50- million G8 legacy fund which was using great amounts of money on doubtful projects in Industry Minister Tony Clement’s riding. The draft shows that the government had ‘misinformed Parliament’ about how the money will be spent and the process of approving the fund may have been illegal.

Mr. Harper, if you can’t pay for it now, you can’t later

Globe and Mail: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/economy-lab/the-economists/mr-harper-if-you-cant-pay-for-it-now-you-cant-later/article1981467/

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff argued to Stephen Harper before the election that corporate tax cuts should be delayed until government finances improve.

• Since then Harper has  adviced a number of policies that are eliminating income splitting, doubling the tax-free saving limits on tax-free savings accounts and a fitness tax credit. The new program is over costly as it is an ongoing spending that can lead to a disaster, since it can affect Canada’s economy. The Canadian government is planned into a surplus position around 2014-15, where Canada’s economy might be near its peak but at some point there will be another reduction of the government revenues and the programs might become more costly than it would have been. Many are wondering whether the program is affordable during the entire business cycle, then there is no need for a surplus.

Ignatieff says Liberal 'Learning Passport' best for students

Winnipeg Free Sun: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/special/federal-election/leaders-cut-appearances-ahead-of-midweek-debates-as-campaign-approaches-midpoint-119585829.html
Michael Ignatieff was at a college campus saying that the student’s best choice was the Liberals.

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May was mention in the article as she is putting a full day public appearances as she was not invited to Tuesday’s English-language or Wednesday’s French- language debate.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s only event is a morning photography opportunity.

• Ignatieff was at St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontaria where he told the audience that the Liberal’s “Learning Passport” will help the post-secondary students pay for college and university of $1000 a year and $1500 a year for students from low-income families for 4 years. He also mentioned about the Liberal’s progressive measures in Internet Voting & a new creation of a Canada Service Corps.               

Tories fighting for faiths

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/08/17928951.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives wants to create an Office of religious Freedom.

Jason Kenney of the Minister of immigration & Multiculturalism talks about a late friend of his who died unreasonably.

• The proposal takes about $5 million that would become part of the department of foreign affairs, to promote & defend human rights. The death of Jason Kenney’s friend, Shahbaz Bhatti (he wanted an end to blasphemy laws), was one of the reasons the platform commitment was created but The Liberal Party wants a strategy that will broaden all religious freedom.

Harper pledges to raise tax-free savings limits:

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/07/17909056.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is promising to limit the tax-free savings account to help Canadians

• Harper went to a home in the suburbs, north of Toronto promising $10 000 tax-free savings account. He claims that it has been a success and that over 5 million Canadians now have tax-free savings account, but it may take 4-5 years for the budget to be balanced. Other people are claiming that the program will cost less but others estimate the policy will cost $30 million in the 1^st year.

Liberals on offence and defense during Quebec campaign tour

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/06/17892551.html

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff was in Bloc Quebecois territory saying that he is the only leader that can unseat Stephen Harper.

Ignatieff mentions that they should not vote for Gilles Duceppe, Leader of Bloc Quebecois, if they do not believe that Mr. Harper should represent the country. Also Ignatieff is framing that the election in Quebec is a 2-way race between him and Harper.

• In the article Ignatieff was in a campaign stop in Quebec City, he promises a $3000 tax credit to the volunteering firefighters and to pay their families $300 000 if they die in the line of duty. He also promised the south shore crowd a Liberal Gov. would start on a new Champlain Bride, the community’s main link to the city of Montreal.

Layton promises fund for granny suites:

Winnipeg Sun: http://www.winnipegsun.com/news/decision2011/2011/04/06/17892551.html

NDP Leader Jack Layton promised on a fund to help families build granny suites for aging parents.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper was also verbally criticized over the Bruce Carson Affair while Layton was at the North End YMCA-YWCA for his announcement.

• A loan program called The Inter-generational Home Forgivable is to help families cover half the cost to create a self-contained suite for aging parents. Layton claims that it would help create 200 000 granny suites across Canada.
• There is also a video a video attached of Layton in Winnipeg, promoting himself.