Has an Election been called?

I was surfing around when I noticed a banner at the top of the Globe and Mail. It is an add for Elections Canada with the words, "Applications must be received by midnight on January 5,2007". When you click on the link it reveals that they are looking to fill 115 positions (returning officers) all over Canada. These positions were posted on Dec.14,2006. Does anyone else find this strange? Are they just being good boy scouts, and being prepared? Among the qualifications is the following:

If you are appointed as a returning officer, you must meet other conditions of employment, among them the following:

You must be non-partisan in politics at the federal, provincial and municipal levels.
You may not participate in organizations that could be perceived as politically partisan.

Those two alone pretty much disqualify 100% of the people I know as well as myself. Damn, missed out on a 10 day all expenses paid trip to Ottawa for the training. Oh well, my riding does not seem to be in need of a new returning officer anyways. Hey Dazz, looking for a part time gig with the gov? They are looking for someone in your riding and everyone knows how non-partisan you are..... not!