Though the election writ has not yet been dropped, the Conservatives have launched their first campaign-style television ad.
Rather than attacking Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, the commercial features Canadians describing what they like about Prime Minister Stephen Harper. It seems designed to portray a kinder, gentler side of the prime minister.
"Stephen Harper's the kind of person who knows where he stands. He's a straight up guy," says one man.
"He's doing a good job," another says. "He's the steady hand we need when the world's economy is so uncertain."
"I like the idea that he's a family man with young children," a woman says. Another says she feels Harper has toughened the justice system.
A younger woman also joins the chorus: "I'll be voting for the first time, and I'll be voting for Stephen Harper," she says.
The commercial ends with what may well become Harper's election slogan: "Stephen Harper. Strong leadership on your side," a voice says over a picture of a relaxed-looking Harper smiling at the camera.
Arctic campaigning
Harper has been using his ongoing tour of the Canadian Arctic as an opportunity to set the tone for the expected election campaign. Earlier Thursday he announced that a new Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker worth $720 million will be named after former Conservative prime minister John Diefenbaker.
Harper made the announcement in Inuvik, N.W.T. on the same spot where Diefenbaker himself dedicated the town in 1961.
The ship and funding for the project had been previously announced.
Dion defends the arts
Earlier Thursday, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion also stepped up his pre-election rhetoric. He portrayed his party as a champion of the arts during a campaign-style announcement in Montreal.
Dion pointed to Harper's plans to cut $45 million in arts and culture funding. He said a coming election would serve as a referendum on the arts in Canada.
He said the Conservatives are increasingly showing their stripes as a party that wishes to censor the arts and tightly control which programs receive funding.
"Promotion of arts is important, the defence of their freedom is very important to us," Dion said, pledging the issue would be a key campaign plank for the Liberals.
Harper is expected to drop the election writ between Sept. 2nd and Sept. 7th -- one day ahead of three scheduled byelections.
