Article content

WATERLOO, Ont. – A solid, if unexciting, Conservative; an energetic but untested Liberal; an experienced but toiling New Democrat.

That is not the national race between Messrs Harper, Trudeau and Mulcair.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Waterloo riding is the ultimate bellwether — and the race is still too close to call in the booming Ontario city Back to video

Rather, it is the contest shaping up in the booming Ontario city of Waterloo — a tight battle between seven year incumbent Tory, Peter Braid, Liberal rookie Bardish Chagger and long-time city councillor turned NDP candidate, Diane Freeman.

The reason why Canadians should pay attention is that the city of Waterloo, in its various incarnations, is the ultimate bellwether, voting for the side that won in nine of the last 11 elections.

It will surprise no one that the race is too close to call, least of all Braid. He beat long-time Liberal MP, Andrew Telegdi, by just 17 votes in 2008, growing the margin to 2000 votes in 2011.

With polls showing the Conservatives and Liberals neck and neck in Ontario, the advantage may have shifted to the Grits – this is traditional Liberal territory, once represented by William Lyon Mackenzie King.