Canada's Conservative Party Ready To Run TV Ads Before Call For Federal Election

Ottawa, Ontario (AHN) - The election bug has definitely bitten the Liberal and Conservative Parties.

The Globe and Mail said the Tories have reserved airtime on Canadian television stations to air pre-campaign ads, even before Prime Minister Stephen Harper makes a formal call for a federal election. The party's radio ads are already running.

When the official campaign period begins, political parties will have to abide with spending limits set by law. Spokesmen of the Liberals and NPD, which are cash-strapped, said they have no plans of running pre-campaign ads on TV and radio.

So far the Conservatives have $3.5 million on its campaign coffer as of the second quarter, while the Liberals have only $912,000 and the NDP $711,000.

NDP communications director Brad Lavigne bewailed the lead the Conservatives have with the date of the snap election under Harper's control. "It gives you an advantage because you can prepare internally without letting on, in an attempt to catch your opponents off guard," Lavigne told the Globe and Mail.

Despite this apparent head start, Harper told media Thursday Canada would still have a minority government even if snap elections will be held before the October 2009 fixed schedule. "That is the reality of the current political environment," Harper admitted.

But even if a minority government could only stay in office for a few years, it nevertheless would benefit from a fresh mandate, the prime minister said.

A senior Liberal member said it was not surprising to hear Harper concede of another minority government. "I doubt that's what he's hoping for... But he knows the idea of a Conservative majority scares people. The minute they talk openly about wanting a majority, they've got a problem because Canadians start asking about their agenda," the Liberal told the Toronto Star.