A distinguished new pair of black-framed glasses added definition to Stéphane Dion's pale features as he showed off a new look in a luncheon speech to a business crowd Tuesday.

Outside the Ritz-Carlton ballroom where Dion spoke, Conservative operatives made their own election-style attempts to define Dion's image, passing out a 65-page critique of promises Liberals have purportedly made.

The Liberal leader, who was speaking to Quebec manufacturers and exporters, immediately dismissed the document as lies.

The Tories even had junior cabinet minister Christian Paradis on standby for instant critique — an unusual response to an Opposition leader giving a routine speech on old tax policy.

What remained undefined is what exactly Dion needs to allow the Tory budget to pass after it is tabled next week.

Dion said he hasn't budged on whether he will allow Conservatives to pass their budget.

To some, the Liberal leader appeared to dampen election fervour earlier this week when set the bar rather low for the Tory spending plan.

Dion said Monday he might allow the budget to pass if it appears "acceptable or at least not too harmful for the Canadian economy."

As all three parties lay down cash for campaign buses in Ottawa, Dion told reporters he still isn't leaning one way or the other, and insisted his words did not represent a shift for him or his party.

'Not saying anything different'

"It's not new, I'm not saying anything different than what we've said in the past few weeks and months," he told reporters.

Dion's eventual budget vote does nothing to clear a series of other election-triggering landmines scattered around Parliament.

The Liberals and Conservatives have not reached a firm agreement to extend the military mission in Afghanistan.

Dion said he definitely does not want Afghanistan to trigger an election or be central to any campaign while soldiers are in the field.

The Tories have also imposed a March 1 deadline for a crime bill stalled in the Senate, although senior Liberals have said they will pass the bill by then.

Numerous Liberal MPs have urged Dion to avoid an election unless the budget contains something Liberals can't ignore.

Liberal insiders have said Dion is more hawkish, repeatedly telling his troops to get ready.

"I don't say anything in private that I won't say in public," Dion said.

"We'll see the budget. Until we see the budget, we can't comment on the budget."