The start of the campaign in St. Catahrines got off to a hot start with Conservative MP Rick Dykstra touting an announcement made days before the start of the campaign that the federal & provincial governments would be investing $140 into a new transmission line at GM in St. Catharines.

However, in what Dykstra & the Conservatives hoped would be a boost for them in St. Catharines turned against them when it was revealed in the local media that:

1. Federal funds for the project did not come from new investments by the Conservatives, but rather though investments that were made by the Liberals and delivered by Walt Lastewka back in 2004.
2. The provincial government announced support and funding for this deal months ago.

The timing of this announcement was nothing more that cheap political opportunism from Dykstra and the Conservatives. And out of the gate it has hurt them here.