NDP Leader Jack Layton told residents of the hotly contested riding of Welland, Ont. Tuesday that he will "fight like hell" for their jobs should he become prime minister, after hammering Prime Minister Stephen Harper's record on jobs, taxes and promises to clean up Ottawa.
Layton was joined at a campaign event by NDP incumbent Malcolm Allen, who has faced criticism in the riding for voting against a move to abolish the long-gun registry, despite originally backing the plan.
After praising Allen's work with the party on employment insurance reform and other NDP priorities in the last session of Parliament, Layton launched into an attack on Harper's record, accusing the prime minister of "turning his back on you" by pushing for the adoption of the HST in Ontario and a series of scandals that have plagued his cabinet.
Layton also criticized Harper for making a campaign stop in the region and failing to mention the hundreds of jobs lost in the region.
"As your Prime Minister, mark my words, I will fight like hell for your jobs," Layton told the crowd. "I'll reward Canada's real job creators -- not companies that ship jobs overseas."
Layton reiterated earlier promises to fix the EI system, boost corporate tax rates and invest revenue in job creation strategies, and cut taxes for small businesses. He also pledged "targeted incentives" for new plants and equipment to keep jobs in the region, as well as a $4,500 tax credit for each new job created.
Earlier Tuesday, Layton began his day in Toronto with a feature interview on CTV's Canada AM where he answered questions from a studio audience and fulfilled a dream of reading the weather.
In recent days Layton has broadened his attacks to include criticism of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, in particular in relation to his attendance record in the House of Commons.
Layton told Canada AM his party is a legitimate alternative to Ignatieff and the Liberals.
"There's quite a contrast between ourselves and the Liberals," Layton said. "They're a party of big business, we're saying let's help out small businesses.
We're saying let's get those doctors and nurses now. They, like the Conservatives, are saying let's wait and talk about it in a few years, so we're a little more action-oriented."
During his campaign event in Welland, Layton continued his attacks on Ignatieff, saying "he's not the solution, he's part of what's broken."
Harper touts health-care record
Harper and Ignatieff were also targeting vote-rich Ontario Tuesday, with Ignatieff returning to Southern Ontario while Harper campaigned in the north.
During a stop in Thunder Bay, Ont., Harper touted his government's record on health and reiterated earlier support for brain research at a local hospital.
The Liberals have been cautioning that Canada's health care system would be in serious jeopardy under a majority Conservative government.
Harper attempted to counteract those warnings Tuesday, announcing plans to invest $100 million in brain research and neuroscience through the Canada Brain Research Fund.
"Our funding supports cutting-edge research and builds on our record investments in Canada's health care system -- to keep it the best health care system in the world," Harper said.
From Thunder Bay, Harper is scheduled to head to Val-d'Or, Que.
Harper's message has shifted in recent days away from the economic risks posed by the Liberal party, to the threat they represent to national unity.
His argument is based on the fact that Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe, who is openly seeking Quebec's separation, has said his party is the only one that can stop the Conservatives from achieving a majority.
Harper maintains only a Conservative majority would be strong enough to avert another referendum on sovereignty
Meanwhile, Duceppe is in his home province of Quebec Tuesday while Green Party Leader Elizabeth May will spend the day in Calgary with deputy leader Georges Laraque, a former member of the Montreal Canadiens.
