Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - September 30, 2008, Winnipeg, Manitoba C m y k Page a9 Winnipeg repress. Com a 9 election 2008 Winnipeg free press tuesday september 30, 2008 election Roundup ele Rou the daily voter Riding Winnipeg North voting nip Judy was lycia leis believes in what Sheds doing and i believe in what Sheds doing right now. Dave Melanson 49 debates no clincher poll millions of canadians will watch the televised election debates this week but Only a Small fraction believe their votes will be seriously influenced As a result suggests a new poll for can West news service and global television. The Telephone Survey of 1,000 canadians found 60 per cent of respondents intend to watch the English language leaders debate on thursday night. But Only nine per cent said their vote will be significantly influenced while 44 per cent said the debate wont affect their vote at All. At the same time More than a third of respondents 35 per cent said they wont be watching either the English language debate or the u. S. Vice presidential election debate also scheduled for thursday night. Ritz zips lips on cold cuts Ottawa agriculture minister Gerry Ritz darted out a Back door monday after ensuring the word listeria Sis never crossed his lips during a two hour debate with political rivals. Ritzus appearance was his first in Public since apologizing for cracking jokes during a conference Call on the health scare last month. His debate performance ignited fresh opposition demands that prime minister Stephen Harper fire Ritz for mishandling the deadly Lister Osis outbreak which has so far claimed the lives of 19 canadians. My hopeful wont drive the grit candidate in Selkirk Interlake said he has nothing to hide including a drunk driving conviction earlier this year. Kevin Walsh admitted he lost his Drivers licence after driving impaired this february. If the 29 year old defeats tory my James Bezan he said hell depend on his wife to drive him around. Walsh said hers Only lost his licence until May 2009. If i was going to move out there id probably rely on my partner said Walsh a residential treatment worker who also runs a Foster Home. From the news services o Ottawa new Democrat Leader Jack Layton called monday for All Federal leaders to put their campaigns on hold for an emergency All party meeting on the unfolding financial crisis in the u. S and its implications for canadians. Lay tones proposal came after the u. S. House of representatives voted Down president George w. Bushes bailout package for the american banking system. Layton insisted canadians could draw some Comfort from their political leaders putting aside their partisan campaigning to meet on wednesday afternoon but the Prospect was immediately dismissed by the prime ministers office. We let the fact that theress an election Campaign Stop us from doing whats right at this moment said Layton who brushed off questions from reporters about whether he is being alarmist and opportunistic. If i was not involved in politics but sitting at Home thinking of what retirement savings i might have i would draw some Comfort from the Effort of All the party leaders saying at least were going to sit Down and talk about it to see if theress anything we can do. Layton suggested the meeting be held wednesday because the leaders will be in Ottawa preparing for the French language leaders debate that night. At the very least he said Harper should Brief All the leaders on what if anything Canada is doing to weather the storm. He issued the request after the u. S. House of representatives rejected a bailout package for american financial institutions monday touching off a Stock Market Tumble including the Toronto Stock Exchange. Harpers spokesman Kory Teneycke said any concern the leaders have can be raised at the televised debates on wednesday and thursday nights. The issues at stake not just for our Economy but for a wide Range of issues the place to have these discussions is in front of the Canadian people not behind closed doors he said. Lay tones pressure for a Quick meeting came during a Day of campaigning in which he appealed to disaffected liberals and other progressives to defect to the new democrats in order to defeat harpers conservatives. This debate is coming Down essentially to two visions or. Harpers vision for Canada and my vision for Canada and to a decision to be made by people disappointed by Stephane Dion declared Layton emboldened by Public opinion polls showing his new democrats Are gaining on the liberals. Can West news service conservatives Stephen Harper promised $ 380 million Worth of tax credits monday for parents with Young children. The conservative Leader said that if reelected his government would give a new tax break for children enrolled in arts activities and would extend tax credits for childrens sports programs and for programs that help families save for a Childs Post secondary education. A new childrens arts tax credit would allow families to deduct up to $ 500 per year for the Cost of enrolling in arts programs from one parents taxable income. It would be similar to the childrens fitness tax credit that would let parents deduct up to $ 500 per year for the Cost of fitness programs. New democrats Jack Layton courted the Urban vote outside a subway station in the Liberal bastion of Toronto where the nip Leader highlighted his Promise to improve Public transit by investing $ 1.3 billion into new buses and sky trains hybrid alternatives and bicycle paths in cities nationwide. The $ 1.3 billion in new spending to be spread Over four years would add 2,000 buses in Toronto 1,400 in Montreal 324 in Ottawa and 62 new sky trains to Vancouver among other unspecified projects. Liberals there were no official announcements from the liberals monday. However Leader Stephane Dion stepped up his attacks on harpers economic record saying the pm shares the same ideology As president George w. Bush. Dion said the liberals have a prudent budget we will be Able to balance the books. From the news services the latest promises Tom Hanson / the Canadian press Stephen Harper listens to Josiah Doern and rest of the Doern kids play recital at a Campaign Stop at their Home in Ottawa. Layton urges meeting on crisis Calls for suspension of campaigns to discuss meltdown by Janice Tibbetts this time last week Kildonan St. Paul a snot High on any ones Ridings to watch list. Tory my Joy Smith was widely seen As a Likely shoe in for reelection. But the race got Wacky in Winnipeg Gas Northern suburbs Friday when Liberal candidate Lesley Hughes was punted by her party for a column she wrote in 2002 siding with sept. 11 conspiracy theorists. Now political junkies Are crunching the numbers and second guessing voters could Liberal supporters in Kildonan St. Paul Migrate in Masse to nip candidate Ross Eadie and hand him an upset Victory Over Smith the math says its possible. Party insiders of All stripes say it will never happen. And the two remaining leading candidates Are playing Coy. I a vent paid much attention to that said Smith of the controversy Over Hughes. Ive been really focused on what ism doing. I dont think its really going to change things for me. Eadie on his Way out door knocking monday evening said the same. Its unfortunate that Lesley got dragged Down by All this stuff but were still running the same kind of Campaign we planned he said. Kildonan St. Paul is More like four Ridings mashed into one. The tories Are solid in the affluent bedroom communities of East St. Paul and across the River in West St. Paul which is slightly More Rural. In Winnipeg Gas West Kildonan and Garden City neighbourhoods the nip and liberals tends to hold Sway. On the East Side of the red River in North Kildonan its a Block by Block mix of tory Liberal and nip support. When Smith was first elected in 2004, she came out on top of a fairly tight three Way race. Liberal Terry Duguid lost to her by just under 300 votes and the nip placed a respectable third. Two years later the three Way race evaporated when the nip ran a weaker Campaign. Duguid a former City councillor faced off against Smith again in a Riding the liberals targeted with Cash and volunteers. But turnout was much higher and Smith picked up 4,000 new votes and easily kept her seat. The combined nip and Liberal votes in 2006 amounted to about 21,800 and would have easily Defeated Smiths 17,500 votes. If her support remains Static this time and liberals Migrate to the nip who Are enjoying some National momentum Smith could be in for a tight race some speculate. Aint Gonna happen predict both tory and Liberal insiders. I certainly think this race is More interesting now but ism still betting Joy will take it said one tory source familiar with the Riding. A portion of the grit vote will Sway to the new democrats but just As Many might jump to the tories. Smith has been very High profile in the Riding Sheds worked hard and the tories Are faring Well nationally noted the source. I expect a comfortable tory Victory echoed a Liberal source. Meanwhile Hughes is still a wild card. The liberals sacked her after elections Canadas nomination deadline so her name will appear on the ballot under the Liberal party Banner even though she would sit As an Independent Brand that still holds some Sway with voters. Hughes could pick up thousands of votes from grit loyalists even if her name never appears on a red and White Lawn sign especially if news of her ejection from the party does not filter Down to voters. And she could run an insurgent Campaign As an Independent. She is still deciding whether to Campaign and How to Clear her name after accusations her views on the sept. 11 bombings Are anti semitic. She plans to make an announcement wednesday. Its such a crucial election and i got into this for some very specific reasons and i should be acting consistent with those goals said Hughes monday. Can i get Over this trauma Maryagnes. Welch free press. My. Ca waiting for the shoe in to drop Kildonan St. Paul Battleground controversy Over Hughes past writings could change everything by Mary Agnes Welch Joy Smith was seen As Best bet to win Riding before Hughes was canned. Ross Eadie could Benefit if Liberal voters decide to Back nip this year. Brett Gundlock / can West news service Jack Layton says canadians could draw Comfort knowing politicians Are discussing the Issue. A 09_ sep 30 08. Ind a9 9/ 29/ 08 8 25 49 pm ;