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08 | 08 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 32
LOCAL HERITAGE THE IMPETUS FOR PEACE CAMP LIVING HERE PAGE 21
COMMENT PAGE 6
HARMFUL TRADE DEALS SHOULD BE ELECTION ISSUE
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Kitchener-Conestoga Conservative candidate Harold Albrecht announced numerous federal grants for Woolwich Township July 31 at the Elmira Cenotaph, including $35,480 to renovate the existing memorial site, $21,744 for improvements at the Elmira Legion and $95,147 to enhance the accessibility of the Woolwich Memorial Centre. [SCOTT BARBER / THE OBSERVER]
The race is on as writ is dropped for fall federal election Harper opts for long campaign to take advantage of full coffers, attempt to neuter opposition, says WLU professor SCOTT BARBER With the dissolution of parliament last weekend and the federal election date officially set for October 19, political observers are calling for a wide-open race in what will become the longest campaign in some 143 years. And while the fixed-elec-
tion date was well known for some time, the fact that the Conservative government decided to make it official so early will have an impact on campaign spending, both by opposition parties who are well behind in that regard and perhaps most importantly, third-party political groups like unions who will now
Grand River
D N A K C U
TR TRACTOR PULL 2015
be subject to strict limits. “In a sense it almost doesn’t matter because the election campaign was on anyhow,” Wilfrid Laurier political science professor Barry Kay said. “The October 19 date was set long ago in legislation, and while I guess (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) could have chose not to observe
that, there was really no question as to when the election was going to be. So the various campaigns, not just the Conservatives were working towards October 19 anyways. The fact was, the various leaders had been out and about, making speeches and doing various things, and there have certainly been lots of
campaign ads before the calling of the election, or the dropping of the writ as they call it, over the weekend. ... The real factor here was I think, and this isn’t a unique observation on my part, but the real factor here relates to the rules about campaign ads and who can pay for them.” Before an election is
called, he explained, third party groups – not to be confused with actual political parties – can spend freely on ads attacking parties, politicians or policy. Third parties fall all over the political spectrum, he added, but some of the biggest spenders have traELECTION | 2
GRAND RIVER TRUCK and TRACTOR PULL 2015
August 21st & August 22nd 6pm Start Both Nights SATURDAY NIGHT FRIDAY NIGHT Local Farm Tractors, Local 4x4 Trucks, EkotuningCom King of the Pull at the
OTTPA Circuit Pullers
Grand river raceway
7445 Wellington County Rd 21, Elora, ON N0B 1SO
www.grandriveragsociety.com