Resounding ‘no’

An 11-week election campaign? A bad dream, right?
Alas, no.
Sure, by making the campaign official, rules (enforceable ones) are now in place that govern everything from party spending to third-party advertising. But just what has Prime Minister Stephen Harper really set in motion by unleashing the longest election campaign in modern Canadian history?
In the short-term, taxpayers will be on the hook for a lot more money to finance the parties and Elections Canada staff—at a time when there isn’t a whole lot in the coffers to spare.
The long-term implications, however, are more troubling. With the election date now fixed, what’s to prevent future prime ministers from following Mr. Harper’s precedent-setting lead of campaigns stretching over 11 weeks—or even longer—whether by design (i.e., having more money than the other guys) or being forced into it because the unofficial “campaign” has spun out of control?
Either way, Canadians likely can expect to be dragged along a longer campaign trail in future rather than a minimum 37-day one—and that’s not a good thing.
First off, the argument that a longer campaign allows the candidates more time to meet voters doesn’t really wash. There’s nothing stopping hopefuls from getting themselves and their message out in their respective ridings before an election is called, as those vying for Thunder Bay-Rainy River already have been doing this summer.
Secondly, most Canadians look forward to an election campaign about as much as a trip to the dentist. That aversion only will grow if it cuts into their summer-vacation mode.
If the parties largely acknowledge most voters won’t even begin to pay attention until after Labour Day, just how useful and effective is the first six weeks of the campaign? More importantly, is it worth the extra taxpayer expense?
The answer is a resounding “no.”
We may have no choice but to endure this 11-week campaign. What we can do, however, is make our voices heard afterwards to ensure it is a one-time exception, not the new rule.