How Harper’s opportunism made his fixed-date bill irrelevant
Today was supposed to be election day. In accordance with a bill passed in May 2006, just months after Stephen Harper’s Conservatives won a minority government, federal elections would be held every four years, starting on Oct. 19, 2009. At the time, the law was championed as a way to promote fairness. As Harper said in 2006, “Fixed election dates stop leaders from trying to manipulate the calendar. They level the playing field for all parties.” But in calling a federal election last fall, Harper proved that the bill has no teeth. He used the opportunity to best Liberal leader Stéphane Dion, who was under siege for his controversial carbon tax proposal.