The long wait is over for Canadians.
The minority Conservative government fell today after the opposition pushed through a non-confidence motion over allegations of contempt of Parliament.
It’s believed Prime Minister Stephen Harper will ask Gov.-Gen. David Johnston Saturday to dissolve Parliament, paving the way for an election May 2 or 9.
“We are ready,” said Colin Mayes, Okanagan-Shuswap Conservative MP, of launching a campaign.
“I have a good support group that’s already been active.”
Mayes, who lives in Salmon Arm, will try and win his third term as MP.
New on the ballot will be Nicki Inouye, a Vernonite who is representing the NDP.
“We have everything in gear. I’m just waiting for my brochures,” she said.
“I need to get my name out there and I’ve been present at a few community events already.”
This will also be the first election campaign for Coldstream resident Greig Crockett of the Green Party.
“We have people getting ready,” he said of his campaign.
“I’ve only been in the position for two weeks so there’s a bit of a panic. But we have momentum.”
A familiar name on the ballot will be Liberal candidate Janna Francis.
She also represented the party in the 2008 election.
“We have print material ready to go and a team of volunteers in place,” she said of the upcoming campaign.
In the 2008 election, the Conservatives received 51.72 per cent of the vote in Okanagan-Shuswap, while the NDP garnered 19.70 per cent, 17.30 per cent went to the Green Party and 10 per cent to the Liberals. There were also two other candidates on the ballot.
