As the federal election campaign heads into its final three weeks, Layton is focusing his attention on strategic voting, hoping to convince voters not to switch from the NDP to the Liberals to block a Conservative victory.
- RIDING PROFILE: Oshawa
"It is frankly offensive for [Liberal Leader Paul] Martin to tell Canadians they are limited to two choices, that they are limited to a choice between corruption and conservatives," he said.
NDP Leader Jack Layton, Tuesday.
"Canadians are, I believe, looking for a change, and they're not going to respond to that kind of arrogant statement by Mr. Martin."
Layton was in Oshawa on Tuesday morning, as he and his party swing through southern Ontario, where the New Democrats hope to pick up some seats.
Oshawa, Layton said, is one place where strategic voting backfired. Conservative Colin Carrie beat the NDP's Sid Ryan by 463 votes in 2004. Ryan is running again, hoping to take the seat away from Carrie.
"The fact that voting Liberal helps elect Conservatives in places like Oshawa is not the only reason to not vote Liberal," he said. "In this election the Liberals simply don't deserve your vote. They just haven't earned it."
Layton has been railing against strategic voting all campaign, insisting that electing New Democrats gives his party more power to influence policy from the opposition benches.
Layton also said that voters can't trust Martin's campaign promises, accusing the Liberal leader of saying anything to get elected.
"He is not being honest about what he stands for," Layton said.
"Canada has an out-of-touch, corruption-ridden Liberal government. They'll say anything, promise anything, knowing full well that they'll ignore their promises the day after the election's over."
