Martin has failed test of leadership: Layton

Last Updated: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 | 10:53 PM ET

CBC News

The Liberal campaign has been "an insult to the intelligence" of Canadians, NDP Leader Jack Layton said Wednesday.

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"The Liberals have put forward little but fear and Canadians are in no mood to be bullied," Layton said to a group of political science students at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.

Layton denied Liberal Leader Paul Martin's accusations that the NDP leader has been soft on the Conservatives during the campaign.

He then listed off a number of promises he said have been broken by the Liberals.

"Mr. Martin has failed the test of leadership."

Poor weather forced Layton to cancel scheduled campaign events in northern New Brunswick and Quebec. Supporters who had come to see Layton had to listen to him through a speakerphone.

Meanwhile, Canadian Auto Workers president Buzz Hargrove criticized Layton's campaign, saying the NDP leader has spent too much time slamming Martin's government, "as if undermining the Liberals was going to strengthen the NDP."

"I think that was a short-term view of the values of Canada," Hargrove said in Strathroy, Ont. where he was endorsing Martin at a campaign stop.

Hargrove has broken with traditional union ranks by endorsing the Liberals in ridings where the New Democrats have no chance of winning.

Layton suggested Wednesday that Hargrove is out of touch with the vast majority of Canadians.