Economic jitters as Canadian election draws near

...Monday is Thanksgiving Day for Canadians, giving them a day to reflect before they troop to the polls.

Liberal leader Dion has narrowed the gap with the Conservatives in the final week of campaigning, with three small parties nipping at their heels.

But he has struggled to sell the centerpiece of the Liberal platform -- the largest tax shift in recent Canadian history, massively cutting income and corporate taxes to offset a new pollution tax.

While Harper focused Sunday on wooing voters in Quebec, where the separatist Bloc Quebecois leads in voter appeal, Dion was in Ontario, the richest and most populous province and traditionally a Liberal stronghold.

Issues in the campaign have included public healthcare, toughening up Canada's justice system, banning handguns, curbing climate change, and Canada's role in Afghanistan -- but the main thrust has been the economy.

The Toronto Stock Exchange took its worst beating in almost 70 years this past week, falling 16 percent to 9,065.16 at close Friday. A leading Canadian bank meanwhile predicted a recession in 2009....