OTTAWA — The political landscape could be dramatically different tomorrow, with fewer Liberal faces in the House of Commons, including senior Martin ministers who are facing an uncertain election day.
Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan, nicknamed "Landslide Annie," has been threatened in every campaign since her election in 1993. But the Edmonton Centre MP always manages to hang on.
This time, however, there are predictions that Ms. McLellan, the only Liberal MP in Alberta, is about to lose to Conservative Laurie Hawn, a former fighter pilot. She beat him by only 721 votes in 2004.
Government House Leader Tony Valeri is in trouble in his Hamilton East-Stoney Creek riding, facing potential defeat from NDP candidate Wayne Marston. In 2004, Mr. Valeri -- who was in a messy fight for the riding nomination with Jean Chrétien's former deputy prime minister, Sheila Copps -- managed to hold on by only 927 votes. This time, he is being dogged by reports of a land deal in which he purchased the property next to his home for $225,000 last April and then sold it three months later to the son of a businessman with Liberal ties for $500,000.
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Paul Martin's Quebec lieutenant and Transport Minister Jean Lapierre, the former separatist from the Montreal riding of Outremont, appears as if he may become the victim of both a Bloc Québécois and Conservative surge in the province. His riding has been Liberal since Confederation with the exception of 1988, when the Mulroney Tories swept the province. Outremont is expected to go Bloc this time.
Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew, the Liberal from Papineau, who was brought into politics and cabinet by Mr. Chrétien as part of his strategy to save Quebec, is fighting to save his job. In 2004, he won by fewer than 500 votes. But the sponsorship scandal that has sunk Liberal fortunes in the province threatens to sink Mr. Pettigrew.
Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach won as a Conservative in 2004 in her Newmarket-Aurora riding, but by a small margin. Despite high-profile help on the campaign trail, Ms. Stronach may fall victim to the Conservative candidate, Lois Brown. Ms. Stronach has been hurt by her public abandonment of her former party and what appears to be anti-Liberal sentiment in the ridings outside of the Greater Toronto Area.
Heritage Minister Liza Frulla, the MP from the Montreal-area riding of Jeanne-LeBer, just hung on to victory in 2004, narrowly defeating her Bloc opponent, Thierry St-Cyr. She is fighting the same Bloc candidate in a province where Liberal support has taken a big hit.
Agriculture Minister Andy Mitchell has represented Parry Sound-Muskoka since 1993, and in 1997 received much notice for beating a high-profile Tory candidate, retired major-general Lewis MacKenzie. Mr. Mitchell is facing another tough opponent in Conservative candidate and former provincial cabinet minister Tony Clement.
Families and Caregivers Minister Tony Ianno, who represents the riding of Trinity-Spadina, is again being challenged by NDP candidate Olivia Chow. Ms. Chow is a well-known former city councillor and also the wife of the NDP Leader, Jack Layton. She has lost twice to Mr. Ianno, but this time may be helped by a Liberal gaffe in which a high-profile member of the federal wing of the Ontario party made a post on his blog comparing her to a chow chow dog.
