Many political columnists and academics believe it very well may be.
"This sounds like a pre-election tour," said McMaster University political science Professor Henry Jacek. "You don't go out announcing money unless you're seriously thinking of going into an election."
Harper is expecting to make a funding announcement at a Hamilton hospital this morning before he visits London and Kitchener. Tonight he comes to Mississauga at 5 p.m. for a picnic with local party faithful at the large recreational facility behind Croatian Martyrs Church at Mississauga Rd. and Eglinton Ave.
"Why spend money if you're not going to have an election, if you're the government?" asks Professor Jacek. "You have your funding announcements before an election because people have short memories."
The GTA will be a critical factor if Harper's Tories are going to make a breakthrough to a majority government.
The Liberals won all six Mississauga-area seats in the federal election in January 2006 but the Tories have gained one seat in the interim, with the crossing of the floor of Mississauga-Streetsville MP Wajid Khan.
All of the Tory candidates in the six local ridings are expected at tonight's event.
jstewart@mississauga.net
