Politician plus axe plus cameras… what could possibly go wrong?

In related campaign developments …

Rules out Canadian military defense of Israel;

In the French debate on Wednesday, Ignatieff said a Liberal government would only allow Canadian troops to be deployed on missions that had the blessing of the United Nations.
“The Canadian army must never be used outside the country without the authorization of the UN,” Ignatieff told his audience in French.

Guelph Mercury;

No votes cast Wednesday in a special ballot at the University of Guelph should stand, according to the Conservative Party of Canada.
The party wrote Elections Canada on Thursday to request that none of the votes collected during the U of G session be included in the final tally of votes in the Guelph riding. The letter was sent by lawyer Arthur Hamilton, of Toronto-based law firm, Cassels Brock.
In his letter, Hamilton alleges the polling station was illegal and also that partisan election material was present at it, which is a violation of the Canada Elections Act.
The polling station in question was located on the main floor of University Centre, where approximately 700 students cast sealed ballots.

The letter.(pdf)
Another question: “How many of the students that voted today will be residing on campus on May 2?”
2006 Flashback – [University of Toronto students] had arranged, through the returning officer for the Trinity-Spadina riding, to vote by special ballot last weekend, but Elections Canada quashed the event after the campaign manager for Liberal incumbent Tony Ianno raised procedural concerns.
Update, by David Akin – “Elections Canada says (just called ’em) that the U of G voting was not an advance poll, as per the Act.”
Let the tantrums begin!
12:15 ET – the latest update on The Elections Acorn Incident!
Final update: Elections Canada statement, via David Akin.

In light of the focus on youth and student electoral participation at the 41 st general election, and on efforts to increase voter interest and turnout among this group, a well-intentioned returning officer undertook a special initiative to create an opportunity for students at the University of Guelph to vote by special ballot. Once Elections Canada officials were made aware of the local initiative in Guelph, the returning officer was instructed not to engage in any further activities of a similar nature. All returning officers have received this instruction.

Now is the time at SDA when we juxtapose!
Michael Ignatieff, April 14th – “Canada isn’t Disneyland. These are ethnic groups do not want to be treated in this way. They want to be treated as Canadians first, last, and always.”
Michael Ignatieff, April 13th – “You can be a Quebecer or a Canadian in the order you prefer.”
h/t Michael Hakov

Canada – not worth voting in, unless they make you Prime Minister.

Related…

“My deepest sympathies go out to the people of Manitoba who are dealing with the devastating effects of the Red River flooding, and especially to those families who have lost loved ones to the flood waters near Brandon,” leader Michael Ignatieff was quoted as saying in the original statement.

Now, go easy on him. He’s still learning the map.