The Liberals are promising to lift P.E.I.'s ban on canned pop if they win the next provincial election.

The Opposition made the commitment during question period Wednesday afternoon. With a provincial election expected to be called next week, the Liberals were hoping to beat the government to the issue.

The sale of pop in cans and plastic bottles on the Island has been banned for many years.

Opposition leader Robert Ghiz said his party would immediately lift the ban on canned pop if it formed the government, and asked Premier Pat Binns if he would make the same promise.

Binns said he continues to take the issue under advisement, but refused to show his hand as far as any kind of campaign promise. One of the reasons he's been reluctant to make a move on this front is the potential for job losses at the Island bottling plant, he said.

Ghiz countered that part of his promise is to ensure laid-off employees are given training and new job possibilities.

Just before the last provincial election, Liberal candidate Duke Cormier promised the Liberals would lift the can ban, but it wasn't part of the party's official platform, so no one spoke about it again.

Using election-style baiting, Binns used question period to highlight that incident again, saying when Cormier found it wasn't part of his party's agenda, he "ran in the other direction with his tail between his legs."