text: The federal Liberals continue to poll strongly http://www.ipsos-na.com/news-polls/pressrelease.aspx?id=7622. However it is interesting to note that, as the link suggests, their support has been "trickling downwards". It will be interesting to see what happens to this trend once both opposition parties have leaders in place and begin to provide a coherent and organised challenge to this meandering government. For now it is hard to hang one's hat on the Cons or NDP until we know who will be at the respective helms (If the Cons chose O'Leary they will lose. The LEAP manifesto makes the NDP unelectable). As for wondering whether the Liberals will conclude a trade deal with China by 2019, the answer is they won't. The deal with Europe took 7 years to consummate with a friendly counterparty. Who trusts the Chinese? Hopping in to bed with them ahead of an election would be a poisoned chalice for the government fraught as such a deal would be with human rights and market access concerns.