Canadian PM kicks off election campaign

Canadian Primer Minister Stephen Harper on Sunday asked Canada's governor general to dissolve Parliament in preparation for a historic general election Oct. 19. 

The 11-week election season will be among the longest and probably the costliest in Canadian history. Harper, after meeting with Gov. Gen. David Johnston, said the campaign is a crucial opportunity for the nation of 35 million people to unify in the face of economic and security challenges — including the jihadist movement of the Islamic State.

"This is no time for risky plans that could harm our future," the leader of the Conservatives said.

Harper and his Conservative party hope to win a fourth term after almost a decade in power. If he wins, he would become the first prime minister since 1908 to win four consecutive elections, according to the Associated Press.

New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair kicked off his campaign, saying Canada's economy will be the primary campaign issue.

"In this election, Canadians have a clear choice: Four more years of Stephen Harper and the Conservatives or our #NDP plan for change," Mulcair tweeted.

Mulcair, speaking later in Gatineau, Quebec, said Harper has the worst economic growth record of any prime minister since 1960, claming some experts believe the country has fallen into recession.

"Mr. Harper's priority is to spend millions of dollars on self-serving government advertising and an early election call. My priority is to invest in affordable, quality child care to help families and the economy," Mulcair said.