The campaign is officially underway.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked Governor General David Johnston to dissolve Parliament and called an election for May 2, 2011 this morning at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

This comes a day after Harper's Conservative Government was defeated in a non-confidence motion that found it in contempt of Parliament.

Challenging Harper will be Micheal Ignatieff of the Liberals, the NDP's Jack Layton, Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe, and Elizabeth May, the Leader of the Green Party of Canada.

Incumbent Cypress Hills-Grasslands MP David Anderson will run again for the Conservatives, and will be challenged by Liberal Candidate Duane Filson, the NDP's Trevor Peterson, and Chris Carnell of the Green Party.