Federal leaders continue to build platforms as election campaigns heat up
Posted Mar 31, 2011 1:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper spent day six of the election campaign in Halifax, N.S., where his party struggled to win seats in the previous election.
The Tories were shutout in Newfoundland and Labrador in the 2008 election, and managed to win a total of only 10 of 32 seats in Atlantic Canada.
Harper spoke to locals about his party’s record on international trade agreements, and told supporters a Liberal minority government — possibly supported by the New Democratic Party and Bloc Québécois — wouldn’t be able to negotiate new international deals.
“What does the other side offer when it comes to trade?,” Harper asked those present in Halifax. “During their 13 years in office, the Liberals negotiated only three free-trade agreements, just three, and they had very few other irons in the fire.”
Following the presentation, Harper met with our affiliate station, News95.7 in Halifax, to talk about the election campaign in general.
“I know nobody wanted it, we didn’t want it, the other guys insisted on it,” Harper said of the upcoming election. “We think it’s about the economy, we think it’s about keeping our country focused on the economic recovery.”
Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff visited a daycare in Winnipeg, Man., where he promised $500 million to fund more early learning and childcare centres, which the provinces and territories could take advantage of.
“This is how Canada actually builds a national childcare and early learning system, you do it working with the provinces piece-by-piece,” Ignatieff said.
NDP Leader Jack Layton stopped in Montreal and announced to supporters he plans to cut the $2-billion in oil-subsidies and use the money for more environmentally-friendly options.
“I will immediately eliminate all of Stephen Harper’s subsidies to fossil fuel producers, we’ll stop the flow of public funds to the tar sands, every single penny,” Layton said. “And I’ll redirect the savings into Canada’s most promising clean energy initiatives.”
Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe remained in Quebec to continue his campaign.
