Election call could come at any time, Harper tells Tory party

Last Updated: Saturday, March 17, 2007 | 8:27 PM ET

CBC News

Prime Minister Stephen Harper told Conservative members on Saturday that an election call could come without warning, and he urged the party to see itself as representing the interests of everyday Canadians.

"Never forget why we are here and who we serve — Canadian families and Canadian taxpayers," Harper said in Mississauga, Ont.
 
"We cannot worry about what they say about us around the boardroom tables, but we must care what they talk about at the kitchen tables."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, speaking at a Tory campaign training meeting in Mississauga, Ont., on Saturday, said in an election-style speech that there's still much work to be done by his party.
(Nathan Denette/Canadian Press)

Harper, whose minority government was elected on Jan. 23, 2006, spoke at a campaign training weekend for more than 2,000 party nominees, MPs and volunteers. His election-style speech came before the federal government's budget on Monday.
 
"We are here to plan, plan for a future that could include an election … an election that the opposition could impose on Canadians at any time," Harper said.

The prime minister said the budget will include a "tax-back guarantee" for Canadians in which the federal government, as it pays down its national debt, will be required to use its interest savings to cut personal income taxes.

Harper said he is prepared to run on the party's track record, saying it has accomplished much in its short time in office, including on such issues as crime, law enforcement, foreign policy and the Armed Forces.

He said the party should be proud, but must not rest on its laurels because there is still much work to be done.

"We took action to introduce mandatory prison sentences for gun crimes, a crackdown on violent, dangerous offenders, and reverse onus on bail applications involving firearms offences," he said.

"Our opponents continue to obstruct these bills. They do so at their own political peril."

Harper encouraged party members to remember that they represent the "unspoken interests" of the majority of Canadians, not the interests of lobby groups or big business.

Calls Liberals 'political exiles'

He described the Liberals as "political exiles" who defend the interests of corporations and who are filled with "empty rhetoric." He said the New Democrats, with their protest politics, are the defenders of fringe groups.

"Let the NDP defend the vocal interests. Let the Liberals defend the vested interests. Let the socialists promise tax increases. Let the Grits protect tax loopholes."

Harper said the Conservatives represent the interests of "hard-working people who didn't have the time to stage protests or the money to hire lobbyists."

He said everyday Canadians are "the quiet people you don't see on the nightly news … Canadians in the broad middle, Canadians who for far too long were ignored by the political process.

The speech, punctuated by applause and cheers, made reference to St. Patrick's Day on Saturday. 

"Legend says that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland. And last year, you, the grassroots members of the Conservative party, drove the Grits out of Ottawa. Now that's something worth saying cheers to," Harper said.