Harper return to office likely as Canadian voting gets under way

CANADIANS yesterday began voting in the country’s third election in four years, likely to return the Conservatives to office in the first G7 ballot since the start of a global financial meltdown.

Conservative prime minister Stephen Harper was predicted to win his second mandate since January 2006, with the latest polls giving him a 5% lead over his main rival, Liberal leader Stephane Dion.

But with one-third of voters still uncertain, and three other mainstream parties nipping at the front-runner’s heels, a Conservative victory was by no means assured.

“The number one job of the next prime minister of Canada is to protect this country’s economy, our earnings, savings and jobs at a time of global economic uncertainty,” Harper said yesterday in the town of Cornwall, Prince Edward Island.

“If you give me the honour of re-electing me as your prime minister, I can assure you that I will make it my top priority to protect Canada’s economy and Canadians’ stake in it,” he said.

Harper urged supporters to push hard to the finish line.

“In this close election there is no guarantee we will win,” he said before flying to Fredericton in easternmost Canada and then ending his day in Vancouver on the Pacific Coast.

Dion called on voters to “Stop Stephen Harper”, saying the incumbent prime minister “has no plan” to safeguard Canada’s economy from the worldwide woes provoked by a collapse in the US subprime mortgage market.

“We have a plan to create jobs, to ensure that we are doing all we can in these tough economic times to protect our pensions, our savings, our mortgages, and our jobs,” he said.

In an interview with the Toronto Sun, Harper said he would step down if he does not win this election.

But he hoped for a minority government, he told broadcaster CTV.