The NDP is taking exception to the federal government鈥檚 claims of strong stewardship of the economy in new attack ads released Tuesday, which depict the prime minister as a grim-faced leader who has 鈥渃reated the worst deficit in Canadian history.鈥�
The English ad, posted to the NDP鈥檚 website Tuesday afternoon, opens with the customary unflattering picture, in this case of Prime Minister Stephen Harper with a dewy face and a frown.
鈥淪tephen Harper says the economy is 鈥榲ery fragile,鈥� and he鈥檚 right,鈥� says a female voice that bears more than a passing resemblance to Halifax NDP MP Megan Leslie.
鈥淏ecause after leading Canada into the worst recession of this generation, Conservatives have another economic downturn on their hands.鈥�
As the ad nears its conclusion, an ominous drumbeat gets louder.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 Stephen Harper鈥檚 solution? Attack the most vulnerable Canadians when they are most in need, with cuts to employment insurance, and cuts to your pension. Stephen Harper has created the worst deficit in Canadian history, and you are paying the price.鈥�
A second, French ad with a similar message was also posted online.
The ads come after the Tories took aim at NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair in ads released late last month that also question the target鈥檚 economic record.
The Conservative ads accused the Opposition leader of having 鈥渟ome risky economic theories,鈥� and criticized his use of the term 鈥淒utch disease鈥� to describe the economic impact of the oilsands in an interview.
Those ads popped up as poll results began to show the NDP either pulling even with, or slightly ahead of, the Conservatives.
Both parties鈥� ads indicate that they aren鈥檛 going to let the dog days of summer prevent them from keeping their base supporters motivated and engaged.
In the NDP鈥檚 case, the ads keep the focus on the economy, and on the prime minister.
"It's always an attempt to continue to re-frame Harper,鈥� Queen鈥檚 University political communications expert Jonathan Rose told The Canadian Press. 鈥淎nd this is just an attempt to reinforce the message and also keep the base active and aware of what the key issues are."
The spots also indicate that attack ads may be here to stay in Canadian politics. The Conservatives upped the ante against Liberal leaders in recent years, dismissing Stephane Dion with the 鈥渘ot a leader鈥� catchphrase, and suggesting that Michael Ignatieff was 鈥渏ust visiting.鈥�
