Longest election campaign in Canadian history underway

Prime Minister Stephen Harper met with Governor General David Johnston earlier this morning before officially dissolving parliament.

The 11-week trail to October 19th will be the longest campaign in Canadian history, but it may also be remembered as one of the costliest.

A 78-day campaign would push the limit up from $25 million for the minimum 37 day campaign to roughly $52 million.

According to Elections Canada, the Conservatives have raised almost $69 million, the Liberals more than $43 million and the NDP roughly $30.5 million since the 2011 election.

Harper has been lambasted by the NDP earlier this week as rumours of dissolution swirled throughout the country.

“This is absolutely hubris and will actually cost Canadian taxpayers tens of millions of dollars more just to run the election. Simply because Mr Harper wants in that way,” declared National Finance Critic and NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley, Nathan Cullen.

But will the bill be footed by taxpayers?

“It’s important that these campaigns be funded by the parties themselves rather than taxpayers,” says Harper, “It’s also appropriate that Canadians have time to consider the alternatives before them.”

Those considerations are a big deal.

For the first time in years, the ‘Big Three’ parties all have a shot at winning.

According to ThreeHundredEight.com poll analyst Éric Grenier, the NDP led with 32.1% of eligible voter support as of Tuesday.

The Conservatives were hot on the heels of the opposition with 31.6% of voter support, while the Liberals continued to decline to 25.6%.

The polls also suggest 2/3 of Canadians are looking for change.

The Liberals have seen a decline in polled support since February, and the NDP may have taken that into consideration, eyeing up a potentially stronger opponent.

Tom Mulcair has announced he won’t take part in any leader’s debates unless Stephen Harper is present.

The party leaders will meet for their first televised debate on August 6.