PARRY SOUND-MUSKOKA – When Marrilee Fischer opened the door to her Huntsville home on Friday afternoon it was to a smiling Tony Clement. The Parry Sound-Muskoka member of Parliament had dropped by to say hello and urge Fischer to contact his office with any concerns she might have.
“He didn’t say anything about an election,” she said. “He was just in the neighbourhood.” But Fischer immediately suspected some early campaigning was afoot.
Clement says the visit was business as usual and not a sign of a spring election.
“When I was knocking on doors five years ago this month people were telling me they only saw their MP when he was asking for their vote,” said Clement in an interview with this newspaper. “I made a promise they would see me 12 months of the year.”
Clement says he knocks on constituent’s doors about twice a month.
“I ask them two questions,” he said. “Is there anything I can do for them as their MP and is there any issue they want me to take back to Stephen Harper.”
Fischer said he also gave her a postcard to send in to his office if she has questions or comments she wants addressed.
Political pundits predict that a spring election wouldn’t change much in the configuration of Parliament, but others don’t think the upcoming federal budget will make it through without triggering a non-confidence vote.
The budget is expected to be announced by the beginning of March.
Were an election to be called, Muskokans would likely have to choose between current Conservative MP Tony Clement, recently announced NDP candidate Dr. Wendy Wilson, Green party candidate Glen Hodgson and an unknown Liberal candidate.
There is currently no Liberal candidate in the riding, but Cindy Waters is seeking the nomination.
“I am seeking the nomination to be the candidate who runs,” she said in an interview with this newspaper. “To my knowledge I am the only nominee.”
She added that Doug Banwell was in the running but has stepped aside. When asked if she thinks Clement’s door-knocking is a signal that he is doing some pre-campaigning she said, “I don’t think they ever stop.”
Hodgson does not expect to see an election in the spring because polls indicate that it is unlikely to change anything. Nor does he predict a fall election, since the provincial election will be in full force.
“Who’s going to push the election button?” he asked. “I’ve done so many pre-election interviews, it just makes me laugh at this stage.”
He says the Green party is not gearing up for an election, but he’ll take what comes and will be the party candidate when that happens.
In the meantime, he says his party will continue to be involved in the riding.
“We do things all the time — we do our thing,” he said. “I write my column, we’re building our off-grid eco-friendly house and expecting our second child in about three weeks.”
Hodgson thinks an election is likely in the spring of 2012. And what does he think is behind Clement’s visits in the riding?
“Mr. Clement needs to knock on doors,” he said. “His reputation has taken a hit recently — he’s been front and centre for a lot of issues.”