* It seems the Liberal campaign team and the media have finally realized that trying to paint Conservative Leader Stephen Harper with a pro-life and pro-family brush was backfiring badly. Canadian mainstream media was clear of abortion-related election stories over the weekend and the Globe and Mail informs us today that “Liberal Leader Paul Martin kicked off his final week of campaigning in Ontario Monday, sticking to his health care message”. Meanwhile the Toronto Star has stopped talking about Harper’s secret pro-life agenda and is now running with a story “Harper denies hidden airline agenda”. * New election rules are costing taxpayers more than ever. Before the changes to election financing rules, candidates scoring at least 15 per cent of the vote received a 50-per-cent rebate on election expenses, while parties took back 25 per cent of expenses. New rules slash the threshold to 10 per cent of eligible votes and give parties an annual subsidy of $1.75 a vote. http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/06/21/507842.html