Time Immortal

Campaigning is already underway.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper pulled the plug on his minority government and asked voters to go to the polls on Oct. 14 to give him a fresh mandate as Canadians face growing global economic turbulence. Harper’s opponents say the campaign will be a referendum on his leadership and the direction he has taken the country since the Conservatives won power in 2006.

Harper painted himself as a reliable quantity while his political opponents pushed the “change” button.

The Conservative leader pointed to what he said was a solid record of governing that, he says, proves he is a tried and trusted steward for uncertain times.

Voters have two distinct choices, he said.

“They can choose between clear direction or uncertainty; between common sense or risky experiments; between steadiness and recklessness,” he told reporters after Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean agreed to dissolve Parliament.

October: busy month!

Harper’s Conservatives seem to be in a decent position at present; this should be a good campaign for them. The Liberals — at least based on their choice of campaign aircraft — aren’t well-positioned financially to fight an election, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the NDP has alienated a lot of people with its constant rhetoric against the Afghanistan mission.

But the NDP were always small fry. It’s the Liberals that stand the most to lose here, and indeed the possibility has begun to emerge that this election might send the Liberals the way of the Progressive Conservatives.

One can hope, I suppose.

Now, if only the Conservatives hadn’t axed the Telefilm fund…that bad decision will make voting for them a little less palatable for me.