While I was out this morning going to the farmers' market and getting breakfast, you know normal Sunday morning activities, the Prime Minister met with the Governor General, dissolved Parliament and called an election. (Personally I quite prefer my own Sunday morning activities.) Canadians will be heading to the polls on Tuesday, October 14 to elect a new government, even thought Stephen Harper said that it's going to be a tight election and they are anticipating another minority government.

So why are we going to the polls? This is what the Stephen Harper said in his public statement as reported by the Toronto Star.

“The frank reality is this parliament is at its useful end, and Canadians have to give somebody a mandate,” Harper later told reporters. “The Opposition doesn’t want to support us and the government does not want to change direction. That’s an impasse and the public should decide.

Liberal leader Stephen Dion addressed the press saying Canadians "face a "stark choice" between the "most Conservative government in Canadian history" that doesn't believe government can have a positive effect on the country and a Liberal party that is progressive and sees government as an agent for tackling poverty, unemployment and climate change."

Halimand's Unheard Voice has a round up of links and official statements, including Jack Layton's. Layton says that if Canadians vote his party into power it will be a real change. "I’ll be a Prime Minister who’ll bring change not just from the past 25 months but change from the past 25 years."

Danielle Takacs, a Liberal supporter, has a few thoughts on what message is being sent by the Conservatives for calling an election right before four bi-elections that were supposed to happen this week.

Sandy at Crux of Matter has posted 60 reasons to vote Conservative on October 14.

Confused about the Canadian election process? Check out Canadian Elections 101. Coming soon - the parties, their platforms and the issues Canadians want to see addressed in this election.

Contributing Editor Sassymonkey blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.