Assuming (based on finding by Elections Canada) that the Conservatives cheated taxpayers out of millions of dollars with their illegal "in-and-out" scheme last election, it remains to be seen what they intend to do this time around...
Harper recently indicated he will "work with" elections Canada, BUT he will spend according to their (Conservatives') interpretation of the rules. Isn't that what they did last time?
When it comes down to it, they pretty much HAVE TO do that - spend a wad of cash over their legal limit, and shuffle monies back and forth between ridings and the Central Office. Why? Well, let's say they decide NOT to do that this time around... That would in and of itself be an admission of guilt. They can't just stop doing what they are sure (sure enough to go to court and sue over) is the correct way to finance their election.
Either way, it is interesting for us. We can go in anticipating that they are going to really spend up a storm. It's the "safe" assumption. This will also make them much "guiltier" in the eyes of Election Canada later on... Problem is, they may eke out a big enough win (IF they win) to avoid an immediate defeat in Parliament, and subsequent public embarrassment. If they chose to stop with the illegal "in-and-out" scheme they are certainly admitting guilt.
As Liberals we'll need to be ready to weather the onslaught of disingenuous ads, drive by smears, door-step whispering campaigns (typically Reform), and hours and hours of illegally financed ads. As a strategy, we'll need to ask Canadians to "keep the Conservatives honest" by ensuring that we have the means to remove them IF (and that's a big IF) they happen to win, by ensuring a weaker minority than they may get. Chances are, there will be enough scandals (talk of Julie Couillard's book, voters seeing Bernier's face), scams, and racist/sexist/homophobic faux pas' during the election to put a bad taste in voters' mouths.
My bet is we see "In And Out PartII" this election.
