NDP leader Jack Layton reiterated on Saturday that he's willing to support the Liberals if the federal budget is adjusted to remove a corporate tax break.

Layton said, however, that any talks on shoring up support for the beleaguered minority government will focus only on budget matters, not saving the Liberals.

They've seen public support plunge in recent weeks in the face of damaging testimony at the inquiry into the sponsorship scandal.

Jack Layton (CP file photo)

"It's really not about propping up anything," Layton told CBC Newsworld. "In fact, we now know there's going to be an election. It'll be about the corruption issue. It's a question of whether it will be sooner or whether it will be in the wintertime."

Stephen Harper's Conservatives this week introduced a motion in the House of Commons that calls on the government to resign. The first possible date the motion could be put to a vote is May 18. If passed, the motion would trigger a June election.

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Layton said his offer to throw his 19-member caucus behind the minority government hinges on the Liberals' agreement to remove a tax break the NDP doesn't like.

"What we're trying to do is get something done. We've got a budget that's sitting there. It needs to be improved. It's got a giant corporate tax cut that came by surprise, to get Mr. Harper's support, I guess."

Layton said he's not sure who approached whom about holding talks between the New Democrats and Liberals. He added he hopes a meeting will be held "soon."

If the NDP sides with the Liberals, they'd still have less than 50 per cent support from the members of Parliament.

Three of the federal leaders – Layton, Harper and Martin – are scheduled to be in Toronto on Sunday to attend a Sikh community parade.