Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff speaks to reporters in Ottawa on Monday, March 1, 2010.Pawel Dwulit
The Liberals are vowing to fight back if the Conservative recklessly wield the deficit-cutting axe in Thursday's budget.
At an Ottawa news conference, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said he wants action on job creation, as well as a long-term plan to tackle the deficit. But he added he will also carefully watch the actions of Stockwell Day, the new President of the Treasury Board.
"They want to return to a balanced budget through compressions," Mr. Ignatieff told reporters. "Mr. Day has taken out his budgetary axe, and if it falls on things that are essential for Canadians, we'll say it loud and clear. ... We are somewhat afraid of Mr. Day's budgetary axe."
Mr. Ignatieff continued his fight to double the federal government's $11-million annual funding for Own The Podium, the program credited with helping Canadian athletes win a record number of gold medals at the Vancouver Olympics. As it stands, the program faces a shortfall as some businesses and governments are cutting back their support.
"This is not a huge investment. I understand we are in a tough budgetary time, but come on, let's loosen up here. Let's do something great," Mr. Ignatieff said, arguing that elite athletes inspire all other Canadians.
Despite his criticism of the Conservative agenda, Mr. Ignatieff showed no intention of trying to bring down Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government in coming months. He dismissed the musings of EKOS pollster Frank Graves, who was quoted in The Hill Times as saying that Mr. Ignatieff would be "crazy" not to go to the polls in the spring.
"I never comment on polls, and now I have to say I never comment on pollsters," Mr. Ignatieff said.
While he vowed to continue fighting to get access to federal documents on the matter of the treatment of detainees in Afghanistan, the Liberal Leader said he has no intention of using parliamentary procedure - as proposed by Liberal MP Derek Lee - to delay the tabling of the budget.
"We've been shut down for six weeks, and we have no desire to hold things up," Mr. Ignatieff said. "I have no desire to create an atmosphere of crisis here."
(Photo: Pawel Dwulit/The Canadian Press)