Political pundits may be speculating on the possibility of a spring federal election, but a former New Westminster Conservative MP says it won't happen.
Former MP Paul Forseth thinks a spring election is not in the works, after hearing from Tory MP Maxime Bernier.
"He said once the House (of Commons) rises in June, there will be no September session, and the House will not reconvene till after the election. So ... once the House rises in June essentially, the election campaign is on, because we know they are not coming back," Forseth told the NOW.
Bernier was in New Westminster for an event with local Conservative constituency associations last week.
"The budget that's coming will obviously be an election budget, but I think the Prime Minister has clearly said in the House of Commons and elsewhere that the (Oct. 19) date is the date," Forseth said.
But that's not stopping Kennedy Stewart from preparing. The Burnaby-Douglas New Democrat has been asking the public for donations in case there's a spring election.
"I've been preparing since January that there would be an early election. There's been enough rumours around Parliament Hill," Stewart said. "For me, it's not a surprise attack unless it's a surprise. If nobody else really thinks there will be a spring election, doesn't mean I shouldn't prepare."
Doug McArthur, director of SFU's school of public policy, said the likelihood of a spring election is "very, very low."
"While there may be these arguments, rational arguments put forward, that (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper would like to get out early, now that the economy is softening, and there may be some other risks with the completion of the (Mike Duffy) court case, they couldn't really get an election done much before the court case is finished in any event," McArthur said. "There would have to be a reason or rationale for a spring election, and it would be too high a risk. It runs the risk of turning against them, and the election itself becoming the issue."
