NDP Leader Jack Layton grills the government about its budget in the House of Commons on Thursday. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Stephen Harper dismissed Jack Layton's concern over pay equity for women on Thursday, suggesting he was all set recently to abandon his "left-wing" principles for a coalition with the Liberals.

During question period, the New Democratic Party leader said Harper's commitment to pay equity for women was a "sad contrast" to legislation just signed by U.S. President Barack Obama, which Layton said would make it easier for women to pursue pay equity and allow them to sue employers over pay discrimination.

"I'll tell you what the only sad contrast is around here these days," Harper shot back.

"It's the leader of the NDP who a month ago was prepared to support the mission in Afghanistan, prepared to support corporate tax cuts, prepared to support development in the oilsands and now wants to go back and try to pretend he's a left-wing idealogue all over again.

"It's his problem. He made his bed, he can sleep in it."

Harper was referring to the Liberal-NDP coalition that Layton had signed on to that would include support for policies his party has fought against.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper replies that Layton abandoned the NDP's principles by forging a coalition deal with the Liberals in December. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

The NDP argues that the government wants to introduce legislation that would require pay equity disputes be settled at the bargaining table, effectively blocking complaints to human rights commissions.

Layton accused Harper of taking away the right of women to go to court to pursue pay equity complaints.

Harper rejected Layton's accusations, saying the measures adopted in the budget are the same as ones adopted in Manitoba and Ontario and that Canada will have a pay equity system that is "going to serve women better."

In the budget, the government announced that the existing regime is a "lengthy, costly and adversarial process," and that the new system will ensure "that the employer and bargaining agents are jointly responsible and accountable for negotiating salaries that are fair and equitable to all employees."