The Liberals will run a 30-minute "TV special" this weekend featuring Michael Ignatieff's speeches urging Canadians to "rise up" and defeat Stephen Harper's Conservatives.
The speeches, which began late last week, have given the campaign a boost of energy. The party put the first one online and now Liberals shout out the slogan when Mr. Ignatieff arrives at rallies across the country.
Conservatives have criticized the campaign, noting that the refrain is taken from a Bruce Springsteen song called My City of Ruins – suggesting Mr. Ignatieff is painting an excessively negative image of Canada.
According to a Liberal Party news release, the 30-minute spots will feature an "up-close-and-personal TV special about Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and the Liberal Party's plan to strengthen families and defend Canada's health-care system."
The spots will be called "Michael Ignatieff's Town Hall for Canada." It will include interviews with Mr. Ignatieff, and "exclusive footage of him on the campaign trail in this election as he brings his message of hope to Canadians."
The party has purchased time on Global and CITY TV across Canada on Sunday afternoon. On that day, Mr. Ignatieff will also appear on the French-language Radio-Canada talk show Tout le monde en parle.
Bill Curry