Federal election set for Oct. 14

By Brent Fox

The Hants Journal/NovaNewsNow.com

Canadians are headed to the polls Tuesday, Oct. 14.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean Sunday morning to dissolve Parliament, a request that she granted.

Opinion polls have the governing Tories on the fringes of majority territory.

The standings in Parliament at dissolution were: Conservatives 127 seats; Liberals, 95; Bloc Quebecois, 48; NDP, 30; Green, one; independent, three; and four vacant.

In Kings-Hants, the incumbent is Liberal MP Scott Brison. The Kings-Hants Conservatives have not held a nomination meeting yet. Carol Harris is the NDP standard bearer, and Janet Eaton is the Green Party hopeful.

Nationwide issues appear to have jelled around the declining North American economy and Canada’s place in it, as well as environmental matters -- including the Liberal’s Green Shift plan.

Party leadership also is seen as a factor, particularly with the Conservatives and NDP, both of which polls say have high readings in that category.

If initial comments and media reports are anything to go by, it’s going to be a nasty campaign.

Quebec sovereignty and health care don’t appear to have the traction they once had in federal elections.