Yukon political candidates are preparing for battle amid reports that Prime Minister Stephen Harper could call an election as soon as Sunday.

Harper is expected to go to Rideau Hall on Sunday or Monday to request that Governor-General David Johnston dissolve Parliament.

If the writ is dropped as expected, this would kick-start Canada’s longest federal election campaign since 1926.

CBC News reported Harper’s potential plans on Wednesday.

The Yukon’s four declared candidates are ready to hit the ground running for an anticipated 11-week campaign.

Liberal candidate Larry Bagnell is excited to get a rematch with Yukon Conservative MP Ryan Leef.

After being edged out by Leef in 2011 by just 132 votes, Bagnell said he is “raring and ready to go.”

Leef told the Star this morning the possible 78-day campaign will bring about some positive elements.

“From a political standpoint, we stand a really good chance of improving voter turnout,” Leef said.

“People were getting fatigued from the frequency of elections that were being called.”

Canadians voted in 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2011.

Now, having had four years since the last federal election, people are “renewed”, he said.

Not-so-“renewed” is NDP candidate Melissa Atkinson, who will be taking a leave of absence from her job as a legal aid lawyer as a result of the time commitment to the campaign and needing a good balance between doing her work while still finding time for herself and her family.

But, this is something she was prepared to do – after being nominated on July 8, she was glaringly aware that she was months behind other candidates in getting her name out to the territory.

So, with pamphlets ready at-hand, her primary objective is letting Yukoners know “they have an option.”

Bagnell echoed this by sharing how he enjoys travelling the territory and presenting Yukoners with his party’s ideas.

“The longer the campaign, the better chance I have to do that,” he said.

Bagnell is not daunted by length – after 10 years in office as the Yukon’s former MP, this is just another 11 weeks to him.

Some campaign challenges are there no matter what party you’re representing, Atkinson said.

The financial challenge, for some parties, could be substantial.

The parties will be spending money on campaign space, staff, advertising and travel for face-to-face contact with constituents.

“Every campaign relies heavily on the hard work and generosity of volunteers and supporters,” Leef said.

“Everybody will have to measure their own pace.”

What will be talked about nationally is the spending allowance each party will have for the longer election.

Ordinarily, each party would be able to spend a maximum of $25 million during the election period once the writ is dropped.

The Conservatives’ Fair Elections Act passed last year has upped the ante in the money-spending game, or so to speak.

Under the act, if the campaign is longer than the typical 37 days, the spending limit is increased by 1/37th for each additional day – which might not sound like much, but really translates to an extra $675,000 per day.

An 11-week campaign would allow parties to double their spending amount to more than $50 million.

“It’s important for individuals to understand what that means,” Atkinson said,

“The true cost for taxpayers is likely to run into the millions.”

During the writ period, parties can take advantage of “campaign rebate.”

Essentially, taxpayers subsidize 50 per cent of what the parties spend on a national campaign.

A longer campaign translates to more dollars out of Canadian taxpayers’ pockets, a Liberal party press release stated today.

“It doesn’t matter what length of election campaign you call, the Opposition will complain,” Leef said, “They’re never going to be happy.”

The election date is firmly set for Oct. 19, Harper told Bloomberg News this week.

Maclean’s magazine will host the first leaders’ debate next Thursday in Toronto, an event that wasn’t intended to occur during the campaign.

Frank de Jong, the Yukon’s Green Party candidate, did not respond to interview requests before the Star’s press deadline this afternoon.