Day four of election campaign

TORONTO, Ont. – It appears the leaders of the three main political parties are trying to appeal to middle class voters.

On the election trail, Tuesday, the Liberals focused on student aid, while the Conservatives talked small business and the NDP took on credit card companies.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper spent part of his day with caucus members in Regina, Sask. He spoke about a plan that was included in the budget that wasn’t.

He highlighted a promise for small businesses, which is a break on employment insurance premiums. Harper said the initiative should lower the cost of hiring new workers and encourage small businesses to expand.

“Put simply, the Ignatieff-led coalition’s high tax agenda would kill jobs, stall our economic recovery and jeopardize the financial security of the hard-working Canadian entrepreneurs and families,” Harper said.

He also made a stop to the home of YouTube sensation and Lady Gaga fan Maria Aragon in Winnipeg.

The two sang “Imagine” by John Lennon, the only Beatles song Aragon said she knew.

At a stop in Bradford, Ont., NDP Leader Jack Layton said if he’s elected prime minister, he would cap interest rates on credit cards at five percentage points above prime.

Layton said family debt is increasing at twice the level of the incomes of families.

“People are digging themselves and finding themselves further and further in debt, as time goes by, and with the rising price of everyday essentials, everything from groceries to home heating, to fill up the tank, it just keeps getting worse and people are having to turn to their credit cards, in order to cover those family essentials,” Layton said.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said that if he’s elected, he would spend $1-billion a year on a new student aid program. He said the money would make us the best educated society on the planet.

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