Oppostiion Leader Stéphane Dion walked a fine line today as he tried to dampen expectations of a fall election.

Dion told a national news conference that his party feels Canadians don't want to go to the polls. But, he added, the Liberals are ready to fight.

"We cannot give a rubber stamp because you have a throne speech," Dion said. "It does not make sense."

But he remained vague about what exactly would see his party vote the speech down and he appeared to leave himself ample wiggle room to support the government's blueprint for the new session.

When asked, for example, what he needed to see in the speech on the environment, one of his favourite topics, Dion's response was extremely general.

The environment is considered to be Dion's strong suit as a leader. But he said only that he wants "meaningful" measures from the government.

Dion was responding to a surprise news conference last week by Prime Minister Stephen Harper in which he told the opposition to "fish or cut bait."

Harper warned that if the opposition votes in favour of the throne speech they must also approve any legislation that follows from it, as he will consider these bills as confidence votes on his government.

The Bloc and the NDP have issued ultimatums about what needs to be in the speech, which is usually designed to set out the government's broad legislative themes.

A few weeks ago, Dion was doing the same. But now, plagued by internal party problems and stinging losses in three Quebec byelections, Dion appears to be attempting a more difficult dance, trying to avoid the impression he will capitulate to a Conservative agenda because his party is afraid to go to the polls.