WATCH: Laura Stone reports that according to some sources, Prime Minister Stephen Harper could call a federal election as early as this Sunday.
TORONTO – Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected to visit Rideau Hall over the weekend and ask Governor-General David Johnston to dissolve Parliament, launching Canada into one its longest federal election campaigns ever, Global News has confirmed.
A senior Conservative source told Global the writ will drop Sunday, sending the country into an 11-week federal election campaign – 42 days longer than the minimum 37-day campaign. Under the Conservatives’ fixed election law, voting day is Oct. 19, 2015.
“I don’t speculate, and I particularly don’t speculate on my own actions,” Harper told Bloomberg Wednesday. “Obviously, there is an important decision coming up for Canadians Oct. 19.”
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If Harper were to kick off the campaign this weekend it would make it the longest election in Canada since a 1926 election that lasted 74 days.
An early writ-drop would also increase the spending limit for political parties beyond the $25-million limit for a 37-day campaign. For each additional day, the limit is increased by about $675,000.
As speculation swirls about the looming writ drop, the campaign feels like it’s already under way: A close race is developing between the NDP and the Conservatives.
According to a recent Ipsos poll conducted for Global News, the NDP led by Tom Mulcair sit at 34 per cent, while the Conservatives and Stephen Harper are at 33 per cent (up five points since last month).
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Justin Trudeau and the Liberals are down four points since June, with the support of 25 per cent of people surveyed.
Among the major issues facing Canadian voters are the rising cost of living, rising food prices, pension contributions, the economy and environmental protection.
Forty-seven per cent of men and 61 per cent of women said the rising cost of living was among their top five issues according to a poll released Wednesday.
The beginning of the campaign also coincides with disgraced Senator Mike Duffy’s trial, which resumes in August. Harper’s former chief of staff Nigel Wright will take the stand Aug. 12. Duffy faces charges of fraud and breach of trust related to his time working as senator.
Wright is expected to face tough questioning about whether Harper knew about Wright’s decision to personally repay Duffy’s $90,000 in expenses.
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