As European leaders called Saturday for an emergency G8 summit amid growing fears of a deep global recession, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper was again battered by opposition leaders who accused him of having no economic plan.
During a campaign stop in the Maritimes, the Liberals' Stephane Dion said Harper was out of touch and accused him of living in "a bubble."
"But we don't need a prime minister in a bubble," Dion said, adding that Harper has been callous about domestic job losses and a domestic economic slowdown.
"We need a prime minister with the people, fighting for the good jobs of this country."
The renewed rhetoric over which leader would better navigate treacherous economic waters comes a day after the U.S. passed into law an unprecedented, $US700 billion aid package for Wall Street's reeling financial services industry.
European leaders, meeting in Paris Saturday, have also been jolted into action by falling stock prices and withering credit markets.
Dion also unleashed an attack on the NDP, who have been gaining on the Liberals in the race for second place during the run-up to the Oct. 14 election.
"If you are worried about your job then think twice about voting for Jack Layton because right now, the only job a vote for the NDP will save is Stephen Harper's job."
While Dion vowed to meet with economists and present a mini-budget within 30 days of the election, Harper maintained that despite a dire situation elsewhere, Canada's economic fundamentals remained on relatively solid ground.
Speaking to reporters in Yarmouth, N.S. -- where he unveiled plans to restore a $300 million fund for regional development -- Harper said it was important for Canadian leaders to stay calm.
"I'm not saying we're immune from this. But we're not in deficit, we're not in recession and we're not losing jobs, and we're not panicking,"
Harper added that his government warned of an economic slowdown more than a year ago, and he has stressed that stiffer regulations have prevented Canadian banks from falling into a U.S.-style meltdown.
Harper also hit back at Dion and said the Liberal leader's economic plan could lead to disaster.
"At a time of economic uncertainty the opposition proposes massive increases in spending that would lead to a deficit, higher taxes that would kill jobs and investments, a carbon tax that would raise prices and a promise to spend 30 days developing a plan only after they are elected," Harper said.
"That is an approach which would take us into recession, not avoid one."
The NDP's Jack Layton also used a campaign stop in the Maritimes Saturday to attack the Conservatives' economic record, saying that Harper has done little to protect Canadian jobs from migrating to other countries.
"We've got shipyards here in Halifax or in B.C. or in Quebec that can get the job done right, but Stephen Harper clearly doesn't care," Layton said in Halifax.
In Montreal, Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe said that a Conservative minority government, though unstable in Parliament, would be better for Canada in during times of economic uncertainty.
Duceppe also warned Quebecers that Harper supports the kind of economic policies which led to the current financial meltdown in the U.S.
With files from The Canadian Press
