Permanent campaign means no rest in target ridings

[Canadian]

The Conservatives are undoubtedly effective at targeting and winning swing seats, taking two-thirds of the ridings they set their sights on in 2011.

The opposition MPs who beat them back may be inclined to breathe a sigh of relief. For at least a day, anyway. And then the unofficial campaign begins.

If the intensity of that campaign is a sign of how badly the Conservative Party wants a riding, Liberal MP Irwin Cotler's Mount Royal may be the most coveted riding in Canada.

Last year, a company working for the Conservative Party called people in the riding and suggested there was a byelection coming, even though Cotler, now 72, had just won re-election.

Cotler has complained twice in the House of Commons about how the tactics, including another campaign back in 2009, undermine his ability to do his job as an MP.

There are good reasons why the Conservatives might focus so strongly on Mount Royal.

A win there would be their first in Montreal since the Progressive Conservatives took the seat in 1988. And it is a riding with a large Jewish population – 38 per cent of the riding – giving the Conservatives the opportunity to do what they do best: target their message in hopes of convincing enough voters to push them over the top.
MPs in waiting

Cotler hung on to his riding on May 2, 2011. But after the election, what he calls "the permanent campaign" began. The government hired the defeated Conservative candidate, Saulie Zajdel, to represent Heritage Minister James Moore in the riding.

Harper learned well from the GOP and brought into Canada dirty style US politics and permanent campaigns...

Link to the rest

[Ocean-77]

Harper should just MOVE to the US (can we export him?? ) so he can live the american political scene if he likes it so much.   All he is demonstrating is a form of traitorship ,  and  not being able to think for himself and  like a Canadian.   
Just who's interests does he have at heart??   (redundant question )
The longer he stays in Ottawa , the fatter he gets and  the less Canadian he seems.
If an  american leader behaved and thought this way........he would be  branded a traitor so fast that the national security  boys  would be left with their collective pants down.
Perhaps  we as Canadians are too tolerant of some of these issues and ideas.
Hopefully  the process being what it can be , will see him OUT  soon. Before we get into the "anyone but Harper"  state of affairs.

[MrsTime]

Harper learned well from the GOP and brought into Canada dirty style US politics and permanent campaigns...

You said it, and I for one hate the dirty campaigns.

[Ocean-77]

Harper learned well from the GOP and brought into Canada dirty style US politics and permanent campaigns...

You said it, and I for one hate the dirty campaigns.

I just don't understand WHY it has to get that way??  Who benefits??

[Toby Fourre]

Cotler hung on to his riding on May 2, 2011. But after the election, what he calls "the permanent campaign" began. The government hired the defeated Conservative candidate, Saulie Zajdel, to represent Heritage Minister James Moore in the riding.

  From post above

A few years ago they tried this stunt in Nathan Cullen's (NDP) riding, Bulkley-Nechako.  There was a public backlash and the Cons eventually gave up.  It is a very dirty attempt to sideline the elected MP.