The Official Opposition is counting on public opinion to help convince the government to include its wish list in the upcoming budget because of its lack of leverage in the majority Parliament.

NDP finance critic Peter Julian and deputy finance critic Robert Chisholm met with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty Thursday to outline what their party wants to see in the budget.

With previous Conservative budgets the opposition parties were in a position to influence its contents because they were in minority Parliaments, but now with a majority in the House of Commons, the government doesn't have to secure the support of any other party to pass its budget.

But Julian said he doesn't think Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government can ignore what the NDP is asking for, because they are the same demands being made by Canadians.

"The government can simply not push aside public opinion. On issues such as cutbacks to Old Age Security, on issues like cutbacks in services to Canadian families, we're on the side of public opinion," Julian told reporters. "That is for us I think a major card in our favour."

Julian said he presented a "practical and affordable" job-creation proposal to Flaherty that includes more tax credits for businesses who hire new employees and breaks for small businesses.

The NDP also wants the government to cut down the size of Harper's office, restrict the use of military aircraft for cabinet ministers, scrap the F-35 fighter jet procurement and put the contract for new planes out to tender, and roll back corporate tax cuts.

He said the NDP will fight any cuts to services in the budget and any cuts to Old Age Security. The government has said it intends to make changes to the retirement income program but has said current retirees will not be affected by the changes.

Julian said Flaherty gave no indication of what changes the government is considering.

Cuts come from spending review

This year's budget will contain the results of the government-wide spending review announced in last year's budget that instructed all government departments to find between five and 10 per cent cuts in their budgets.

The NDP wants more investment, not cuts, Julian said.

"Budgets are about choices," he said. "The evidence is very clear, we need to be investing in this year's budget, not cutting back on services."

Julian said the NDP wants targeted investments that create jobs and help families.