As rumours circulate about a federal election being called as early as Sunday, Skeena – Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen says both he and the NDP are ready for whatever may come.
“We are absolutely well prepared and well positioned for this campaign. We’re used to marathons, not sprints, because of the nature of politics,” he said of what would be the longest election campaign in almost 90 years.
“We’re ready and willing to fight Mr. Harper from coast to coast to coast … we’re in it to win it and if you look at the polling, people are feeling very positive about the NDP.”
While Cullen said he is ready for an 11-week campaign, the incumbent said dropping the writ this early is simply the wrong thing for Canadians and an act of desperation on the part of the Prime Minister.
“It is absolute hubris and is going to cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars just because this is what Stephen Harper wants,” he said.
“I think voters will see this for what it is … another way for the Conservatives to rig the election in their favour.”
While the launch of an election would mean the dissolution of Parliament, Cullen said he doesn’t think that necessarily means a delay for cabinet approval of the Pacific NorthWest LNG terminal, which the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency is expected to rule on in the coming months.
“The Liberals and Conservatives tend to push things through when there is not a lot of scrutiny because people are focused on the election,” he said, noting he feels it would be risky to give approval when there is no chance of being questioned on the decision.
“I expect the assessment to be done properly and do not expect it to be a decision made in the middle of an election … Would I put it past them to do this? No, I wouldn’t.”
