Stephen Harper back on the Lower Mainland

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Stephen Harper back on the Lower Mainland
Attending Easter services in Burnaby
Jesse Johnston/Sonia Aslam Apr 24, 2011 13:20:27 PM
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BURNABY (NEWS1130) - The Stephen Harper election tour is rolling through BC today.  The Conservative Leader is trying to win over voters on Vancouver Island and in Burnaby.

He kicked off his day in Victoria, where he re-announced his plan for a $500 arts tax credit for kids.  The same plan was included in the budget, which didn't live long enough to be debated.

The Tory government fell in a non-confidence vote before it came up came up for discussion in the House of Commons.

Harper then shook hands with students alongside Saanich-Gulf Islands MP Gary Lunn.

He later dropped by the Burnaby Alliance Church to wish everyone a happy Easter.

But with only eight days to go before the election, he could not help but get a political message in there. "A steady hand, a plan that is working affordable commitments and a pledge to keep taxes down, that is the prudent course for these times, and it's exactly what you can expect from our government."

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That message was then translated into Cantonese, and Harper made it no secret that he is after the so-called "ethnic" vote, and today's visit was clearly about appealing to the Chinese-Canadian voters in Burnaby and New Westminster.  More than half of the people in the Burnaby-New Westminster riding are immigrants, and 20 per cent of the people there are of Chinese descent.


Layton as Opposition leader?

He's close, but just not close enough for the top job.  Langara College Political Scientist Peter Prontzos thinks NDP Leader Jack Layton has the confidence of voters to nab the job of official Opposition Leader.

He says Layton will have a lot of support out here in BC.  He explains voters who usually vote Liberal might switch it up this time around.  "[If] The NDP will have a better chance to defeat the Tory, in their particular riding, even though they might normally vote Liberal and vice-versa."

Prontzos calls Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's argument that Layton has no experience as 'weak.'  "Ignatieff has not spent as much time in Canada or in Parliament as Layton has."

He adds the recent surge in popularity for the NDP will also push them over the edge.  


Conservative Leader Stephen Harper visiting the Burnaby Alliance Church (April 24, 2011)