My often helpful little birdy dropped by the other day to put this collection of data in front of me: It seems that, so far on their respective summer tours, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has been pretty much staying in friendly Conservative-held territory while Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has been largely touring around ridings that the Liberals do not hold.
This data is up-to-date as of the middle of last week, when Harper touched down in Yellowknife, NWT (held by NDP MP Dennis Bevington) and Whitehorse, Yukon (fortress of Liberal MP Larry Bagnell).
| Aug 18 | Harper visits Iqaluit, NU | Nunavut, Leona Aglukkaq (CPC) |
| Aug 15 | Harper appeared in Summerside, PEI to mark the opening of Canada Summer Games | Egmont, Gail Shea (CPC) |
| Aug 14 | Harper visited Chelsea, QC to announce funding to extend Highway 5. | Pontiac, Lawrence Cannon (CPC) |
| Aug 13 | Harper appeared in Kitchener to announce the launch of a regional development agency in southern Ontario. | Kitchener Centre, Stephen Woodworth (CPC) |
| Aug 13 | Harper attended Conservative BBQ in Oak Ridges-Markham | Oak Ridges-Markham (Paul Calandra, CPC) |
| Aug 5 | Harper visited Esquimalt, BC | Keith Martin, Esquimalt-Jaun de Fuca (Keith Martin, Lib) |
| Aug 4 | PM announces Pitt River Bridge will soon be open for traffic in Pitt Meadows, BC | Port Moody–Westwood–Port Coquitlam, James Moore (CPC) & Pitt Meadows–Maple Ridge—Mission, Randy Kamp (CPC) |
| Aug 4 | PM tours Made-in-Canada Olympic Venue in Richmond, BC | Richmond, Alice Wong (CPC) |
| Aug 4 | PM meets with Members of the Persian Community in Surrey, BC | Fleetwood-Port Kells, Nina Grewal (CPC) |
| Jul 30 | Harper visits Thetford Mines, QC | Mégantic—L'Érable, Christian Paradis (CPC) |
| Jul 30 | Harper visits Adstock, QC | Mégantic—L'Érable, Christian Paradis (CPC) |
| Jul 29 | Photo-op at Rona store in Ottawa to highlight the Home Renovation Tax Credit | Ottawa-Orléans, Royal Galipeau (CPC) |
| Jul 4 | Harper hosts BBQ at Calgary Stampede | Calgary Southwest, Stephen Harper (CPC) |
| Jul 3 | Harper attended the President’s Reception hosted by the Board of Directors of the Calgary Stampede. | Calgary Centre, Lee Richarson (CPC) |
| 1-Jul-09 | MI participates in the Old Strathcona “Silly Summer” Canada Day Parade. | Edmonton, AB (Unheld) Edmonton-Strathcona |
| 1-Jul-09 | MI attends Breakfast with Ismailis | Edmonton, Alberta (Unheld) Edmonton-Centre |
| 1-Jul-09 | MI attends Garden Party | Winnipeg, MB (LPC Riding) Winnipeg South Centre |
| 1-Jul-09 | MI attends Muslim Canada Day BBQ | Winnipeg, MB (LPC Riding) Winnipeg South Centre |
| 2-Jul-09 | MI attends Canadian Club Townhall | Winnipeg, MB (Unheld) Winnipeg Centre |
| 2-Jul-09 | MI attends Ray Simard Golf Tournament Fundraiser | Winnipeg, MB (Unheld) Saint Boniface |
| 23-Jul-09 | MI visite l’usine Kruger | Gatineau, QC (Unheld) Gatineau |
| 30-Jul-09 | MI attends Ajay Virmani Fundraiser | Oakville, ON (Unheld) Oakville |
| 30-Jul-09 | MI attends Innes and Morgan Fundraiser (Private) | Toronto, ON (LPC Riding) St. Paul’s |
| 31-Jul-09 | MI attends Tour of Barrie Community Health Centre Barrie, ON | Barrie, ON (Unheld) Barrie |
| 31-Jul-09 | MI attends Ukrainian Canadian Congress Meeting | Toronto, ON (Unheld) Trinity-Spadina |
| 1-Aug-09 | MI rencontre des résidents d’Amqui à l’occasion d’un dîner. | Amqui, QC (Unheld) Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia |
| 1-Aug-09 | MI assiste à un cocktail partisan | Matane, QC (Unheld) Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia |
| 1-Aug-09 | MI soupe avec des supporters de Nancy Charest | Matane, QC (Unheld) Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia |
| 1-Aug-09 | MI participe à un table ronde avec des intervenants de Ste-Anne-des-Monts | Matane, QC (Unheld) Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia |
| 1-Aug-09 | MI participe à un rassemblement à l’aéroport de Mont-Joli | Mont-Joli, QC (Unheld) Haute-Gaspésie – La Mitis – Matane – Matapédia |
| 4-Aug-09 | MI attends Grano Lunch FR | Toronto, ON (LPC Riding) St. Paul’s |
| 8-Aug-09 | MI visits Farmers’ Market | Peterborough, ON (Unheld) Peterborough |
| 8-Aug-09 | MI attends Liberal Meet and Greet | Peterborough, ON (Unheld) Peterborough |
| 8-Aug-09 | MI attends Andy Mitchell Fundraiser | Bridgenorth, ON (Unheld) Peterborough |
| 10-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ attend a lunch meeting with key Liberals from the London region | London, ON (LPC Riding) London North Centre |
| 10-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ attend a roundtable on the economy with London stakeholders | London, ON (LPC Riding) London North Centre |
| 10-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ visit Dearness Seniors Home | London – Fanshawe (Unheld) |
| 11-Aug-09 | MI attends Fred George Fundraiser | Bedford, NS (LPC Riding) Halifax West |
| 11-Aug-09 | MI Roundtable and Tour of Cape Breton Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre | Sydney, NS (LPC Riding) Sydney-Victoria |
| 11-Aug-09 | MI attends Cape Breton Community BBQ | Sydney, NS (LPC Riding) Sydney-Victoria |
| 12-Aug-09 | Tour F or Tri Star (ambulance manufacturing plant) | Yarmouth, NS (Unheld) West Nova |
| 12-Aug-09 | Yarmouth Town Hall for a meeting with West Nova mayors and key leaders | Yarmouth, NS (Unheld) West Nova |
| 12-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ arrive in Clark’s Harbour for the town annual Garden Party | Clark’s Harbour (Unheld) West Nova |
| 13-Aug-09 | Saint John Liberal Breakfast event | Saint John, NB (Unheld) Saint John |
| 13-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ enter St. John Board of Trade Luncheon. | Saint John, NB (Unheld) Saint John |
| 13-Aug-09 | MI and ZZ arrive at McKenna FR venue. | Cap Pelé, NB (LPC Riding) Beauséjour |
| 14-Aug-09 | Auchinleck Potato Farm visit | Lower Bedeque, PEI (LPC Riding) Malpeque |
| 14-Aug-09 | Meet and Greet Community BBQ | Summerside, PEI (Unheld) Egmont |
| 14-Aug-09 | Tour- Tignish Fish Plant and Wharf, 175 Judes Point Road, Tignish, | Tignish, PEI (Unheld) Egmont |
| 15-Aug-09 | Acadien Picnic, Tintamarre Festivities | New Castle, NB (Unheld) Miramichi |
| 15-Aug-09 | Reception at City Hall | Caraquet, NB (Unheld) Acadie—Bathurst |
| 15-Aug-09 | Tintamarre Parade | Caraquet, NB (Unheld) Acadie—Bathurst |
| 15-Aug-09 | Premier's Reception | Caraquet, NB (Unheld) Acadie—Bathurst |
| 16-Aug-09 | Kabaddi Cup- Kunal to meet | Toronto, ON (Unheld) Trinity Spadina |
Seems that the chart you have omits the last two dates of Harper's northern tour that you have added?
One wonders what others may have been omitted?
Might be a function of Harper having twice the friendly CPC ridings that Ignatieff does. Ignatieff couldn't leaver Toronto if he were to stay in Liberal friendly ridings. Jack almost exclusively is outside of NDP friendly ridings. Does that make him a better Leader than Ignatieff.
Ms. May wins the campaigning in hostile riding this hands down.
BC Voice of Reason
Might be a function of Harper having twice the friendly CPC ridings that Ignatieff does.
Ignatieff couldn't leaver Toronto if he were to stay in Liberal friendly ridings.
Jack almost exclusively is outside of NDP friendly ridings.
Does that make him a better Leader than Ignatieff.
Ms. May wins the campaigning in hostile riding this hands down.
reposted for formatiing BC Voice of Reason
Uh David. The writ hasn't been dropped yet ! So just wait.
If Harper still only visits safe ridings (which I highly doubt), then that will indeed be a sign of weakness.
More likely, he will, like last time, hold a rally in a CLOSE riding, often held by the opposition. And invite MPs and candidates from nearby ridings. That's pretty well been his campaigning modus operandi so far.
macky avelli
Everyone's a critic, eh David. Thanks to your little bird for collecting the data. It will make a useful baseline when you get to the first week of the campaign.
David when you only hold 77 seats, you must go on the offense to regain those 27 lost in 2008.
Since the CPC have 143 seats “firming up” recent gains is playing defense or visiting newly acquired ridings?
Of course you know Harper only does controlled campaign appearances. They are never open to the public, only Conservative supporters are allowed to attend and only planted questions are allowed, if any questions are allowed at all.
The Liberals and NDP generally have open campaign events and often take real questions from the audience.
Iggy is neither on offence or defence. He is where he and most Liberals are most comfortable: on da' fence.