In an apparent attempt to win back vital ground in Quebec, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper announced Monday he would provide a $150-million tax credit to help get kids interested in the arts.
Speaking in Ottawa, Harper said the credit would be designed to help defray the costs for parents who want to enroll their kids in arts programs that could inspire them to pursue a career in the field.
"The credit will apply on up to $500 of eligible fees for children under 16 who participate in eligible arts activities. This tax cut will encourage and make it easier for parents to give their children the benefits of activities such as music classes, drama or arts classes, and the parents will save money on their taxes," Harper said.
"For some children participating in arts, dance and drama classes these will be a fun and enjoyable activity. For others it could be the beginning of much more -- a life long interest or career."
He said the new program would also be extended for lower-income families. An already existing children's fitness tax credit would also be extended, Harper said.
The Conservatives poll results were strong in Quebec early in the campaign, but appeared to slip last week after Harper suggested ordinary working Canadians didn't relate to elitist, tax-subsidized artists when they see them at gala events on television.
Strategic Counsel polling for CTV and The Globe and Mail on Friday showed the Tories had stalled in Quebec's key battlegrounds while the Bloc Quebecois had seen a rise in support.
Liberals target Harper
Meanwhile Monday, the Liberals stepped up their attacks against the Conservatives.
Deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff warned business leaders in Toronto on Monday that Stephen Harper would lead the country into an "economic crisis" if he returns to government.
Ignatieff, appearing with Liberal finance critic John McCallum, said Harper's plan won't help Canada navigate the turbulent global economy.
He said a Conservative government would make cuts to health care and pensions, would "devastate" the middle class and make Canada unrecognizable.
The Liberal plan, meanwhile, would provide "sound money, balanced budgets, low taxes and personal responsibility."
Ignatieff also said Harper is trying to deceive Canadians into thinking he occupies the centre of the political spectrum.
"Harper's trying to push us off the centre because he's a right-wing conservative. He's got to persuade Canadians of what is not true -- namely that he's a centrist. He's not a centrist, he's a right wing politician and we have been in the centre since Laurier for heaven's sake," Ignatieff said.
"He puts on the blue sweater, he does the 'you are getting drowsy stuff', and it's not going to work with Canadians. Canadians are not fooled."
Ignatieff downplayed a seat projection released Friday by the Strategic Counsel showed the Conservatives poised to double their seat count from 16 to 32 in the 45 key battleground ridings in Ontario, Quebec and B.C.
Ignatieff said he is confident that Canadians will vote Liberal when they go to the polls.
"They know there's a party at the centre, at the centre of Canadian life, it's called the Liberal Party of Canada. And when they see that party occupying the centre, pushing them off from the right, pushing them off from the left, they vote for us."
