"Dundas is considered to be a Tory area traditionally. It's where Liberals have to work hard to make gains," admits Brownell, who has spent time main-streeting and plant-gating in areas such as Winchester, in north Dundas.

What Libby's really focussing on is to counter that," Sanford said. "She's out at bus stops every other morning talking to people on the way to work. She's mainstreeting in high-traffic areas just to talk to voters when they're out shopping. She does plant-gating, the dispatch halls for the dockside workers.

Lucien Lamoureux, Canada's ambassador to Belgium, chuckles at the surprise of Belgian politicians when they hear how he used to work his old riding in Cornwall for the Liberals. Plant gating at 6 in the morning, door knocking, mainstreeting, rallies, more plant gating for the 10 p.m. shift.