Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff attacked Stephen Harper's "abuse of power" on Sunday, claiming the Conservatives had exposed their lack of respect for democracy through a series of government scandals, one of which found them in contempt of Parliament.
"This is a government that is out of touch and out of control," Ignatieff told a crowd of supporters in Montreal.
"This is a government, a regime, with a basic objection with democracy. That's what Canadians are finding difficult, that's what Canadians are finding difficult to stomach, that is what Canadians want to replace."
Ignatieff's comments came on the second day of the federal election campaign, launched on Saturday when Harper asked the Governor General to dissolve Parliament following the loss of a non-confidence vote.
The Liberal leader pointed to a series of issues he said outlined Harper's abuse of power, not least of which was being found in contempt of Parliament for refusing to share information related to the cost of crime legislation and the purchase of stealth fighter jets.
Ignatieff also pointed to Bruce Carson, Harper's former top advisor who faces charges of influence peddling, and said Harper had undermined independent watchdogs and twice used prorogation to shut down Parliament.
"Does that inspire trust in you? It certainly doesn't inspire trust in me," he said.
Ignatieff told the crowd that a Liberal government would protect the environment, strengthen healthcare and help families and post-secondary students.
He said Quebec had the power to stop Harper from retaining power by voting for the Liberals.
Speaking in the riding of Ahuntsic, won by the Bloc Quebecois in the last election, Harper said a vote for Gilles Duceppes' party might send a message to the Conservatives, but it wouldn't necessarily change anything.
"Send a message to Mr. Harper. That's what you can do with a vote for the Bloc," he said. "Me, I'm more ambitious than that. I want to replace Mr. Harper."
Earlier in the day Ignatieff met with Liberal candidate Martin Cauchon in Montreal's Outremont riding, a former Grit stronghold being targeted for recovery.
The riding was held by the Liberals from 1993 until NDP MP Thomas Mulcair took the seat in a 2007 byelection. Mulcair won by 2,343 votes.
Cauchon previously represented the ward from 1993 until 2004, when Jean Lapierre replaced him as the Liberal candidate.
Ignatieff and Cauchon spent Sunday morning wandering from bagel shop to café and shaking hands with neighbourhood residents.
Inside one café, Ignatieff strummed a Ukrainian bandura he had borrowed from a patron.
"I don't think I'm going to give up my day job," Ignatieff joked before returning the banjo to its owner.
"Unfortunately I'm going to be voting for Mr. Mulcair in this election," the young man said. "But maybe we can have a coalition."
