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Canada PM Harper calls general election for 19 October | Canada PM Harper calls general election for 19 October |
(35 minutes later) | |
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called a parliamentary election for 19 October. | Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has called a parliamentary election for 19 October. |
In an announcement he said he had asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve parliament. | In an announcement he said he had asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve parliament. |
Correspondents say the campaign is likely to focus on Canada's sluggish economy and security issues. | Correspondents say the campaign is likely to focus on Canada's sluggish economy and security issues. |
Mr Harper's centre-right Conservative Party has been in office since 2006 but analysts say he could struggle to form another majority government. | Mr Harper's centre-right Conservative Party has been in office since 2006 but analysts say he could struggle to form another majority government. |
If he is successful, Mr Harper would be the first prime minister since Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1908 to win four consecutive elections. | If he is successful, Mr Harper would be the first prime minister since Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1908 to win four consecutive elections. |
He made his announcement after meeting Mr Johnston, who represents Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's head of state. | He made his announcement after meeting Mr Johnston, who represents Queen Elizabeth II, Canada's head of state. |
Mr Harper said the election would be about "leadership on the big issues that affect us all, our economy and our nation's security". | Mr Harper said the election would be about "leadership on the big issues that affect us all, our economy and our nation's security". |
Oil setback | |
The 11-week election campaign will be one of the longest in Canadian history. | The 11-week election campaign will be one of the longest in Canadian history. |
The main parties opposing Mr Harper's Conservatives are the Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, and the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) under Tom Mulcair. | The main parties opposing Mr Harper's Conservatives are the Liberals, led by Justin Trudeau, and the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP) under Tom Mulcair. |
A new poll released on Sunday put the Conservatives only slightly ahead of the NDP, with the Liberals close behind - all of them at about 30%. Other polls have put the NDP slightly in the lead. | |
Commentators said the three parties were essentially tied going into the election campaign. | |
Canada's economy has been badly affected by falling oil prices. In July the Bank of Canada cut interest rates for the second time in six months. | |
The Canadian dollar has also lost more than 20% against its US counterpart over the past two years. |