Michael Ignatieff and his pledge to increase the gas tax transfer (although in fairness, the increase is ambiguous at this point).

Ignatieff is going to lean hard on the gas tax to pump up his electoral fortunes with municipal politicians across the country

“We would enable our cities and communities to invest in transit and water systems—and we’d do it by permanently increasing the gas tax transfer. We’d flow money right through the municipalities, to the people on the ground who know where the money is needed most—in community infrastructure.  Economic development in our regions depends on building networks of broadband, bridges, and asphalt.”

The funding increase is one thing.  But the flow through of these funds straight to the municipalities without federal or provincial bureaucrats in the way might even be bigger than the cash, however.

Let’s give round one to Ignatieff.

It must be noted in advance that Harper doesn’t like the cities and seems to have little time for them fiscally, thereby most likely trumping him from any municipal points awarded throughout the entire fight.