Notes from the campaign trail: Will Gagnier's resignation slow Grit surge?

The Conservatives and NDP are hoping the resignation of Dan Gagnier will finally stall the Liberal surge of the last couple of weeks. The Liberal campaign co-chair resigned Wednesday after writing an email to TransCanada Corp outlining how to deal quickly and effectively with a new government. It forced Liberal leader, Justin Trudeau, off his message yesterday and again today.

If the Gagnier story has impact it will probably be greatest in Quebec. The NDP wasted no time working up a new TV ad that asks, “When it comes to scandal and corruption has the Liberal Party really changed?” The NDP said today French and English versions of the ad will air over the weekend. It will be worth watching to see if the ad finds its way into baseball and hockey game commercial breaks.

Tom Mulcair was in Lac Megantic this morning and promised an NDP government would make it a priority to provide better rail safety in Canada. Again Mulcair chose a Conservative held riding. Day in and day out Mulcair tries to make the case that only the NDP is taking the fight to Harper. The event was a quiet affair with no supporters in the background waving their “Stop Harper” signs.

Mulcair welcomed another round of questions on the Liberals and Gagnier. Mulcair was asked if his party had lobbyists working on its campaign. “This is unique to the Liberal campaign.” He said. “No campaign that I know of other than the Liberal campaign has people who have been on the campaign bus, on the campaign plane, in the campaign war room actively working for an on behalf of a private company during the campaign.” Muclair accused the Liberals of “trying to feather their own bed.” I think it is a safe bet that the NDP plan for the final weekend is to take every opportunity to try to use the Gagnier resignation to make the Liberal record of scandal a top of mind issue for voters as they head to the polls on Monday.

Stephen Harper was in Quebec City for a bigger, better prepared morning rally. He seemed energized and made a full on pitch for Quebec support. It started with a reminder of what his government has done for Quebec. Then the detailed Conservative tax saving case was made again. The kaching-kaching of the cash machine was heard again. This time Harper promised a saving of $4,300 from a tax grabbing Liberal government. At the end Harper repeated that the Conservatives will protect Canada’s heritage and enforce the requirement to lift the niqab at citizenship ceremonies.

The questions to Harper on the Liberal party and Dan Gagnier were much the same as to Mulcair. Harper’s answer was the same. “There is no other party in this election that is accused of the things the Liberal Party and Mr Gagnier have done.” Harper said. “It is the old culture of the 'Sponsorship Scandal'. It’s not about anybody else. It’s about the Liberal Party.”

Justin Trudeau went to Mississauga and got a vote of confidence from the former mayor Hazel McCallion. But his pitch to seniors got lost in a second day of questions about Gagnier. Trudeau maintained that the Liberal campaign is “following all the rules.” He then said that the matter was dealt with quickly. Gagnier has now said the Liberal Party knew of his work for TransCanada. Trudeau didn’t deny that, in fact he said today it was a matter of public record “for many, many months now.” Trudeau said only the email was “inappropriate.” His answers left more questions for tomorrow. But for the rest of today Trudeau hit ridings across the GTA spreading his photo ops out but not taking more questions.

Trying to keep the Gagnier pressure on, the NDP sent out a release that it has asked the Commissioner of Canada Elections to investigation if the ELECTIONS Act was violated. The request, from the NDP’s Campaign Director Ann McGrath, said, “The NDP is seeking an investigation with respect to Mr. Gagnier’s now-former role as the Liberal Party’s campaign co-chair and his paid position providing advice to TransCanada Corporation with respect to the Energy East pipeline.

Mulcair headed west with a stop in Edmonton and then a last quick stop in and around Vancouver before heading back east to Toronto for a rally on Sunday.

Harper went to Fredericton to try to shore up support for Conservative MPs in New Brunswick. From there Harper heads back to Laval, in Quebec for an early afternoon event on Saturday. This was added late Friday and is another indication of how important Quebec will probably be on Monday night. From there Harper heads back to the GTA and that rally with Rob and Doug Ford later tomorrow.