Four federal by-elections in limbo

It seems that Harper does not want to see the results of these by-elections even after calling them. I wonder whether Harper is calling the election because he thinks things will get worse for him later, because the elections may bankrupt the Liberals and create division against Dion, or some other reason. The opposition can rightly claim that this whole consultation game is a farce. The fact that Conservative election ads are already running shows that Harper has made up his mind. Unlike the Liberals Harper is not about to eat crow and and he will not likely reverse course to keep the government going. Perhaps Dion will beg Harper not to call an election at this time! I suppose that would be good Labor Day entertainment for Harper.
This is from the Star.



Four federal by-elections in limbo TheStar.com - Canada -
ANDREW WALLACE/TORONTO STAR
Guelph NDP candidate Tom King says cancelling a Sept. 8, 2008 by-election in favour of a federal election would be like repeating a marathon — "backwards."
Work continues on votes that face cancellation – and taxpayers will have to pick up the tab
September 01, 2008 Linda DiebelNational Affairs Writer
While enjoying the delights of the Labour Day holiday, spare a kind thought for Guelph returning officer Anne Budra and her Elections Canada crew working through the long weekend for a Sept. 8 vote that likely won't come.
After all, you're picking up the tab.
There's apparently no way, according to Elections Canada, to calculate the precise cost to Canadians of cancelling four by-elections scheduled for September if, as expected, Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls a general vote this week.
An Elections Canada official says his agency estimates a tab of $890,000 for each of the four by-elections, but can't hive off how much already has been spent, how much is irreversibly committed and what can be rolled over into an upcoming Canada-wide vote.
However, be sure of one thing: Canadians will pay more for a general election this fall than the roughly $300 million it usually takes to fund a federal election.
"It's a complete waste of taxpayer money, especially when (Prime Minister Stephen Harper) suggests we're going to end up with another minority government," says Michael Nagy, a Guelph consultant and Green party candidate.
"What does it say about Harper's priorities if he's spending this kind of money for an election we don't need, right now, while cancelling programs we do, like the $45 million in arts cuts?"
On July 25, Harper announced Sept. 8 by-elections in Guelph, Westmount-Ville-Marie and Saint-Lambert On Aug. 17, he scheduled a fourth vote for Sept. 22 in Don Valley West.
Even Budra can't guesstimate expenses to date in Guelph for a vote scheduled for a week today. Her staff has been at it for more than five weeks and, with a laugh, she says: "They've got us where they want us."
Thing is, if the by-elections are cancelled, all their work is simply sealed and shipped off to Elections Canada in Ottawa in order to put Guelph on an equal footing with every other Canadian riding going to the polls. It's the same for the other three ridings.
"Our job is to run the by-election and until we hear differently, it's business as usual," Budra told the Toronto Star. "If we have to start again, we start from scratch."
Still many things are up in the air and another Elections Canada staffer in Guelph says they'd be waiting for instructions from Ottawa if the by-elections are cancelled. It could be a scramble for them if Harper waits until Sept. 7 to do it, as rumoured.
Office expenses from rent to utilities must be paid, transportation costs covered and employees reimbursed for work that includes advance polling, verifying registration lists and keeping headquarters humming. Budra says she's employing 800 people in total and, while many are slated only for Sept. 8, Elections Canada must ensure potential staffers aren't out-of-pocket for, say, booking time off in advance.
Other issues stretch beyond financial cost, notably the strain on candidates and volunteers who've been door knocking, stuffing envelopes and putting out signs since the votes were called.
"It's like running a marathon to the end and finding out you have to do it all over again, backwards," said Tom King, the NDP candidate in Guelph who's better known outside the area for his radio comedy, Dead Dog Café.
"It's tough." he says. "We've got to keep everybody going, keep the energy high and not let exhaustion set in. We've been at it almost 35 days, and now we're probably extending it to 70?"
Mike Crawley, president of the Liberal Party of Ontario, also thinks the public "will take a dim view" of a snap election. (Indeed, an Angus Reid poll for the Toronto Star, published Saturday, shows 52 per cent of respondents don't want an early vote this fall.)
At a Guelph rally yesterday with Green party leader Elizabeth May and newly snagged MP Blair Wilson (West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast), Nagy didn't know if he was campaigning for next week or next month.
Not all Guelph candidates are peeved at Harper's expected big change in plans.
"If Parliament goes back, there's probably an election scenario anyway," says Liberal Frank Valeriote, a lawyer who's hoping to keep Guelph, considered a bellwether riding, for the Liberals. His Conservative opponent is Gloria Kovach, a municipal politician in the area.
"It all comes out in the wash," says Valeriote. Plus, there's good news and bad news for by-election candidates.
The good news is Elections Canada plans to refund the $1,000 registration fee to everyone. Under normal circumstances, the refund comes only if the candidate gets 10 per cent of the vote.
The bad news? They'll have to send it right back to Elections Canada for Round 2.