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Saturday, April 2, 2011

Time for yet another federal election

Canada’s 41st general election was kicked off when Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked Governor-General David Johnston to dissolve Parliament after the Conservatives were defeated in the Commons on a vote of non-confidence recently.

So Canadians will cast a vote on May 2. This could lead to the first majority government Canada has seen in seven years.

The Conservatives are leading in polls by a significant margin. But the opposition parties believe Canadians can be persuaded Harper can no longer be trusted with power.

This general election could cost more than $300 million – the government’s House leader John Baird said this week it would cost $400 million, but it’s impossible to say at this point.

Elections Canada says the 2008 election cost $288.2 million which included $57.9 million that was reimbursed to candidates and parties for expenses.

This time around, parties are also trying hard to bank ethnic vote. While Harper was wielding a cricket bat on the day of the semifinal match between India and Pakistan at the 2011 World Cup, while CIC minister Jason Kenney was at a restaurant watching the match with a bunch of South Asians!


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