Speaking the Language of the Lower Mainland

I said "Do you speak my language?"
He just smiled
And gave me a vegemite sandwich
--Men At Work

Harper, although probably targetting the GTA, inadvertently hit the Greater Vancouver RD with a blast of fresh air:

Harper promises minimum sentences for gun crimes

Updated Thu. Jan. 5 2006 9:57 AM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

A Conservative government would "completely overhaul" Canada's justice system, put more police on the streets and beef up security at the border, Stephen Harper promised Thursday.

Speaking in downtown Toronto, the Conservative Leader said he would introduce a series of mandatory prison sentences -- ranging from five to 10 years depending on the severity of the offence -- for those caught committing crimes using guns.

Gang crime, although localized mostly in the east end and Surrey, is a big deal out west, where Vancouver has been rated one of the most unsafe cities in Canada.

This directly targets ridings that have recently turned Liberal in the lower mainland. Harper needs to come out hard on car theft and similar mandatory sentencing for those crimes (along with a plan for dealing with Meth) and he could knock off a few Libs on the best coast for good.