Harper rumoured to drop the writ for fall election this weekend

While many people plan to relax over the long weekend, politicians will likely miss out on that luxury as final preparations come together for what could be the longest election campaign in Canada’s history.

Political observers expect Prime Minister Stephen Harper will drop the writ Sunday, which would leave 11 weeks before the October election.

Nelson Wiseman, a University of Toronto political scientist, tells 660 NEWS an election is planned around money with election campaigns typically running about 36 days.

He said federal parties are legally allowed to spend $25 million during that time.

“For every day over 37 days, parties are allowed to spend about $750 thousand more per day. This benefits the Conservatives because they have a lot more money to spend,” he said.

Wiseman says he doesn’t think it will make much of a difference pointing out the Alberta Conservatives led by former Premier Jim Prentice spent five times as much as Rachel Notley’s NDP, but Notley won the premier’s seat.

Critics have said a long campaign could push voters away from the polls, but Keith Brownsey, an MRU political scientist, says he does not see that happening this round.

“The country is energized – the Conservative supporters will come out to vote, as will the NDP, but the question lies with the Liberals in the case,” he said.

If the Liberals do lose votes, Brownsey says it will likely be to the NDP.

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