The Liberal party has launched a series of ads attacking the prime minister's decision to suspend Parliament until March 3. (CBC)

The Liberal Party of Canada has launched a series of ads attacking Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament until March 3.

The Opposition party released two English-language ads and one French-language ad on the internet Sunday and will be running them in newspapers and on television and radio Monday.

One of the ads says Harper's announcement on Dec. 30 that the Governor General had agreed to suspend Parliament was "his holiday gift to himself."

The ad says the prime minister went ahead with prorogation to avoid answering questions about climate change, unemployment and reports alleging the abuse of Afghan detainees.

Another ad features a Tory-blue sign that features Harper's signature and says, Parliament Hill: Closed out of self-interest.

The ad alleges the prime minister tried to "sneak a fast one by you" while you "weren't paying attention."

"What's Stephen Harper trying to hide? What's his real agenda?"

MPs were scheduled to return from the holiday break Jan. 25.

A spokesman for Harper said the extended break would give the government time to shape the next phase of its economic action plan.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff reiterated Sunday that Canadians are coming to see the closure of Parliament as just the latest act of an arrogant leader who "shuts down every independent regulator or every independent body who stands up to the power of the prime minister."

"We get a very strong sense that Canadians don't like this," he said. "And they don't think the prime minister should control when Parliament sits. Harper shouldn't be shutting down Parliament. Prime ministers serve at the pleasure of Parliament rather than Parliament serving at the pleasure of prime ministers. He's got it completely reversed."

With files from The Canadian Press