CALGARY – The Conservative Party of Canada will be hosting their National convention at the Stampede grounds this week, but they aren’t the only politicians in town.
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will be speaking at the Calgary Petroleum Club on Wednesday morning, before attending a Liberal Rally at the Calgary Italian Club at 7 p.m.
Trudeau’s visit to Calgary comes amidst the ongoing Senate expense scandal, which has polarized Canadians.
According to a poll from Ekos Research and iPolitics.ca which was released on Tuesday, more Canadians believe beleaguered Senator Mike Duffy’s story over Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s version of events.
Some 40 per cent of respondents said they believed Duffy’s tale – including the circumstances surrounding the infamous $90,000 cheque supplied by former chief of staff Nigel Wright – while only 18 per cent think Harper’s telling the truth.
And 37 per cent don’t believe either of them.
The poll also suggested only a quarter of Canadians approve of the job the prime minister is doing – a historic low for Harper.
Some question if Trudeau’s visit to Calgary is an attempt to strike while the iron is hot, and gain voter confidence.
When asked about the timing of his visit, Trudeau said he didn’t consider it to be ‘party crashing’.
“I think this is an opportunity when the Conservatives are very much in damage control around their ethics and the scandal that’s surrounding the PMO, to actually point out that on the side of the economy, energy infrastructure and making a case for our resource sector – this government has actually been failing as well,” says Trudeau.
“I’m very much focused on continuing to get away from Ottawa and the scandal bubble that’s surrounding the Prime Minister and instead engage on the ground with Canadians, with industry leaders and talk about the kind of challenges that, regardless of how this scandal unfolds, we’re still going to be facing,” he adds.
WATCH: Justin Trudeau speaks to Global Calgary’s Susanne Fox about his visit
The 2013 Conservative Convention begins on Thursday at the BMO Centre.
– With files from Global News’ Laura Stone
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