Election 2015: NDP centre politics on economy blurs party lines

The federal election of 2015 is shaping up to be an unprecedented one in a few ways ...

It's the longest in modern history.

It's a genuine, three-way race for the first time in a long time.  

And, the traditional labels of left- right- and centre seem to have gone out the window... at least when it comes to economic policy.

The New Democrats have promised much, including balanced budgets... leading to Liberal leader Justin Trudeau's quip that "You can't be Tommy Douglas on Stephen Harper's budget."    

Mr. Trudeau's own Liberal party, once famous for reining in deficits, says they would go into the red to boost infrastructure spending.

And when the news came out yesterday that there was a 1.9 billion dollar surplus for the past fiscal year, the Conservatives touted it as proof that they're the only party that should be trusted with the country's purse strings.... yet again.

Do old labels still apply and who stands to win or lose?

• Robin Sears is a former NDP strategist and Principal at Earnscliffe Strategy in Ottawa. 
• Amanda Alvaro is a Liberal strategist and Managing Director of Narrative PR in Toronto. 
• Tim Powers is a former Conservative Party strategist and the vice-chair of Suma Strategies in Ottawa.
   

This segment was produced by The Current's Idella Sturino, Leif Zapf-Gilje and Julian Uzielli.