POLICY TRACKER: Where Federal Leaders Stand . . . .

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Where the federal leaders stand as election fever heats up

[ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... ts-up.html ]

A look at the highlights of what each party is putting in the window as the campaign gears up.

By: Les Whittington Ottawa Bureau reporter, Published on Fri Jun 19 2015

OTTAWA—With the last sitting of Parliament before the Oct. 19 election now over, the unofficial pre-vote campaign will be heating up in earnest.

And by August or September, federal parties will be plunging into a full-scale election contest — one seen by many as potentially the most unpredictable in years.

As the political battle shapes up, key issues include the Senate scandal, the sweeping security legislation crafted by the Conservatives in the wake of the jihadist-like attacks in Canada last year and Ottawa’s tax and spending trends.

Polls generally show the federal NDP has enjoyed an upsurge in popularity in the wake of their provincial cousins’ surprise majority victory in Alberta in May. But as the incumbents in Ottawa, the Conservatives will have a substantial advantage over the summer as they announce federal infrastructure spending and use government advertising to remind Canadians of their record.

And, despite an array of issues the NDP and Liberals will push, the election could end up being fought mainly over economic management.

“The economy is going to be the focal point of much of this debate and it’s who do you trust to deal with the economy,” said John Wright, senior vice-president at Ipsos pollsters.

Currently, with the NDP up the in polls, he said the emerging debate breaks down into conflicting policy approaches. “There are two very different visions of this country: One of them saying ‘We’re going to put money in your hands, meaning the populist hands, to make your decisions that are best for you,’” Wright said in reference to Harper’s approach.

“On the other hand are those who say, ‘We’re going to put national programs in place so that government can assist you in achieving what you want to have,’” he said. “And that really is the ballot question right now.”

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Here’s an early look at how the election agendas are shaping up and some of the highlights of what the parties will be putting in the window as the campaign develops.

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[ http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2015 ... ts-up.html ]