Candidates expected to mobilize army of supporters during final weekend of campaigning

Supporters of all four Mountain candidates in the Oct. 14 federal election are expected to be out in droves knocking on doors on this final weekend before election day.

Some 88,000 eligible voters in the riding of Hamilton Mountain will choose between NDP incumbent Chris Charlton, Liberal Tyler Banham, Conservative Terry Anderson and Stephen Brotherston of the Green Party.

At press time, of the three major party leaders only Liberal Leader Stephane Dion and the NDP's Jack Layton have visited the riding during the campaign.

Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Stephen Harper spoke before several hundred supporters at the Jetport facility at the John C. Munro-Hamilton International Airport Oct. 7, but the airport is actually in the riding of Niagara West-Glanbrook. Tory officials said they were unable to find a large enough location that was available in the Mountain riding for Mr. Harper's rally.

North of the Linc the riding extends north-south from the Mountain brow to just south of Rymal Road and east-west from Mountain Brow Boulevard-Arbour Road-Anchor Road to West 5th. South of the Linc the riding runs north-south from the Mountain brow just south of Rymal Road and east-west from Mountain Brow Boulevard-Arbour Road-Anchor Road to Glancaster Road.

In the Jan. 23, 2006 election Ms. Charlton, who came within 1,000 votes of winning in 2004, captured the riding with 21,970 votes compared to 18,704 votes for the Liberals and 15, 915 votes for the Conservatives. Prior to 2006, the riding was held by the Liberals through five previous elections dating back to 1988.

While she received support from across the riding, Ms. Charlton's strongest support in 2006 came in the neighbourhoods on the north Mountain between Concession Street and Fennell Avenue. Most of the Liberal support in that election was concentrated south of the Linc.

The Mountain features a growing and diverse population both ethnically and economically. With the loss of thousands of manufacturing jobs in Hamilton over the past several years, the economy has been a major issue in this campaign.

In Hamilton Centre, which includes a portion of the west Mountain north of the Linc, about 80,000 eligible voters will choose amongst NDP incumbent Dave Christopherson, Liberal Helen Wilson, Conservative Leon O'Connor, John Livingstone of the Green Party, Anthony Giles of the Libertarian Party, Lisa Nussey of the Marxist-Leninist Party and Communist Ryan Sparrow.

To be an eligible voter, you must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age and can prove your identity and address.

At the polls you have three options to prove your identity and address.

You can produce one original piece of identification issued by a government or government agency, such as a driver's license, that contains your photo, name and address.

You may provide two pieces of identification authorized by the Chief Electoral Officer of Canada. Both pieces must contain your name and one must also contain your address such as a health card or utility bill.

Another option is you may swear an oath and be vouched for by an elector who is on the voters' list and can verify their identity.