Liberal party going out of business: Layton

Last Updated: Friday, January 20, 2006 | 7:23 PM ET

CBC News

NDP Leader Jack Layton predicted Friday that the Liberal party is going out of business, calling on voters to give his party the balance of power.

"Who is really going to balance Stephen Harper's Conservatives in Parliament? A broken, defeated Liberal party? I don't think so," Layton told a campaign rally in Vancouver on Friday.

"We're going to be on the job next Tuesday, no matter what the election result. Unlike the Liberal party that's going to be out of business until it cleans itself up."

Jack Layton addresses supporters across Canada by tele-conference in Vancouver on Friday, Jan. 20, 2006. (CP photo)

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Layton said that the only thing after the election will be "the smoking hulk of a defeated Liberal party.

"That's why we're working flat out in British Columbia and across the country to defeat Conservatives while Mr. Martin puddle jumps from Liberal riding to Liberal riding trying to save the furniture."

Layton said Martin is misleading voters into thinking the Liberals are the only choice.

"Mr. Martin is trying to perpetrate one more Liberal fraud in this election, hoping you'll reward him one more time with your vote," Layton said.