NDP Leader Jack Layton says he still wants the government to cancel planned corporate tax cuts, as negotiations continue on the upcoming federal budget -- the details of which will determine whether Canadians head to the polls this spring.
Layton and Prime Minister Stephen Harper spent about 40 minutes on Friday discussing the NDP leader's key demands for the budget, which is expected to be tabled on March 22.
After the meeting, Layton said he had reiterated his party's focus on four policies: to eliminate federal tax on home-heating fuel, boost the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors, help solve the shortage of family doctors that has left millions of Canadians without a primary care physician, and expanding the Canada Pension Plan.
But one notable NDP policy was absent from that list: scrapping corporate tax cuts.
Layton cleared up the confusion Sunday, saying about one-third of the meeting was devoted to corporate tax cuts which he described as "fundamentally wrong."
Layton has said Harper did not offer any specific assurances on his suggestions, but on Sunday said he was clear he wants to at least try to work with the federal government.
"He's got a choice to make," Layton told CTV's Question Period. "He can either come up with a good budget that responds to some of the real needs that Canadians are facing today, which we outlined, or he can decide not to do that, in which case he will be deciding to move us into an election."
Layton has faced accusations that his proposals will cost billions of dollars at a time when the federal government is trying to reign in record deficits.
But Layton called his suggestions "practical and doable," despite putting a $900 million price tag on his home-heating plan, which calls for a return of a program to help Canadians renovate their homes to become more energy efficient, as well as an end to federal tax on home heating fuel.
"(The government is) looking at spending billions all over the place. Whether it's on the corporate tax cuts or whether it's on jets that they want to buy, you name it. It's not as though this government is averse to spending money," Layton said.
"We're talking about a modest expenditure out of the total package, and it looks as though government revenues are going to be somewhat improved in the budget coming forward, and we think that Canadians who have suffered through this recession and need a little bit of help鈥e think it's their turn now."
