RE engagement of MPs: Other MPs who seem to be engaged with the issues and posing relevant questions during committee have been the Bloc Quebecois MPs.
RE strategic voting: I used to not be very favourable to it but, this time, I'm all for it. What offends me most about the Harper government has been the complete disregard for compliance with Charter rights and the significant impact their legislation has had on civil liberties especially and rights in general. And I really think Anyone But Conservative would lead to a better outcome on that front, so I have no problem casting my vote for whoever in my riding might overtake the Conservative candidate - in this particular election. However, it is highly unlikely that the Conservative candidate in my riding will be unseated. So I have been wavering between voting Liberal or NDP. There is also a Green candidate on my ballot (but no other candidates besides these four parties). The Liberal candidate is the one that would have a shadow of a chance of getting in -- if the votes for all the other candidates were added together, they would likely amount to more than what the Conservative will get in votes (but perhaps barely). So it seems unlikely that my voting Liberal strategically would work (i.e. would actually result in having the Liberal candidate win). If I look at overall platforms, party leaders, etc., I am more inclined to vote NDP, particularly because I know one of the candidates (in another nearby riding) and would like to support her (even though it would be indirectly). On the other hand, the NDP candidate in my riding does not seem particularly strong and if I look at who I'd prefer as an MP, I think the Liberal candidate would be better. So there is a lot of thought going into my one vote... and a lot of wavering between those two options.
I have voted Green in a previous election but feel no inclination to do so this time. This time around, I actually do want to rally with one of the parties who will get many seats.
Losing extra contribution room in my TFSA seems like a very small price to pay to have a government that would respect fundamental rights and freedoms. Which I think would be the case with Anyone But Conservative.