At a campaign rally in Regina, Layton rhymed off a list of federal and provincial leaders, both Liberal and Conservative – Prime Minister Paul Martin, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper, Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Quebec Premier Jean Charest and B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell – saying they "are all on the same wavelength."
"Medicare is being sabotaged by people who claim to be protecting it," he said.
"Canadians need to know that the profiteers are circling around the core of our health-care system."
Shirley Douglas, left, watches Jack Layton in Regina.
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Those rules would be monitored and enforced, he said.
Joining Layton at the podium was Shirley Douglas, the actor turned health-care activist and daughter of medicare founder Tommy Douglas.
She echoed the NDP leader's warning tones about the pending doom of the medicare system.
"You either want a single payer system in this country or you want an American-style health system," she said. "And don't kid yourself that there's anything in between."
Layton let the Liberal minority government fall on a no-confidence vote last month after the prime minister refused to implement NDP health-care proposals. It all led up to the election Jan. 23.
