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Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper triggers election campaign ahead of Oct. 19 vote.

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    FILE - In this June 4, 2015 file photo, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper speaks at a news conference in Toronto. Harper triggered an election campaign Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, and set the vote for Oct. 19, when Harper and his Conservative party hope to earn a fourth term after almost a decade in power. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP, File) MANDATORY CREDIT (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this March 30, 2015 file photo, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Tom Mulcair rises during the debate on the extension of Canada's mission in Iraq during debate in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario. Analysts say the NDP have a chance to gain power after winning an election in Alberta, Canada's most conservative province, a few months ago. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld, File) (The Associated Press)

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    FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2014 file photo, Liberal leader Justin Trudeau speaks to Liberal Members of Parliament and nominated Liberal candidates in Ottawa, Ontario. Trudeau, son of late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, is in the running to be the next prime minister. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Adrian Wyld, File) (The Associated Press)

TORONTO – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has triggered an election campaign and the set the vote for Oct. 19.

Harper and his Conservative party are seeking a fourth term after almost a decade in power. The prime minister dissolved Parliament Sunday.

Harper, in power since 2006, has managed to nudge an instinctively center-left country to the right. He has gradually lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation, supported the oil industry against the environmental lobby, increased military spending and backed Israel's right-wing government.

Analysts say the election is a toss-up and Harper faces an uphill battle to form another majority government.

If Harper wins he'll become the first prime minister since Sir Wilfrid Laurier in 1908 to win four consecutive elections.