NDP Leader Jack Layton speaks to supporters May 2 in Toronto after the party won 102 seats in the federal election. Layton addressed a labour convention in Vancouver May 11, 2011, about his goal for the coming parliamentary session.

The NDP will pressure the Conservative government to increase public pensions, party leader Jack Layton said Wednesday as he called for labour union and provincial support on the issue.

In a speech to the Canadian Labour Congress in Vancouver, Layton said Prime Minister Stephen Harper is "practically alone in ignoring the looming retirement security crisis."

"A majority of the provincial governments have recognized the brewing storm. And the overwhelming consensus amongst these provinces is that the most pragmatic, responsible response is to strengthen the guaranteed public pensions-the CPP and QPP," Layton said in his prepared remarks.

"All they are waiting for is a federal government that's ready to act."

Layton says he'll be an ally for the premiers, regardless of which party they represent.

"By working together, we can put the pressure on the Harper government and get real action to strengthen the CPP and QPP [the Quebec Pension Plan]," he said.

The NDP have been pushing the government to eventually double CPP benefits and to let workers and their employers pay into the funds. The party also wants to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement seniors get, adding an additional $700 million a year to the fund.