Prime Minister Stephen Harper says his government will not engage in "horse trading or negotiations over the budget," despite a recent meeting with the NDP leader and a willingness to hear from the other opposition parties about their economic priorities.
During a campaign-style stop in Vancouver to promote his government's immigration policies, Harper answered questions on the possibility of a spring election if the opposition votes against the upcoming budget.
After being asked repeatedly whether he reached common ground on any budget priorities with NDP Leader Jack Layton after their meeting last Friday, Harper said he is open to suggestions from all opposition parties.
However, he was adamant that the final decisions on the contents of the budget, which Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is expected to table on March 22, rest with his government.
"We don't engage in horse trading or negotiations over the budget," Harper said. "In the end, after listening to the pitches of the other parties or various interest groups, we will make the decisions we think are in the best interests of the Canadian economy. I'm quite confident that any member of Parliament who puts the best interests of the Canadian economy before all else will find good reason to support the budget."
According to Harper, Conservative ministers and MPs have engaged in 200 consultations with Canadians across the country to learn their priorities as the economy continues its slow recovery from the recession.
Harper said his team heard a clear message to focus on the economy, reduce the deficit, keep a lid on spending and don't raise taxes.
A planned corporate tax cut, which is to come into effect next year as the final in a series approved by Parliament in 2007, has been one of the hot-button issues as election speculation heats up. Layton has made cancelling that tax cut a key demand to guarantee his party's support for the budget. However, Harper has not indicated a willingness to revisit the issue.
"I don't hear any Canadians out there telling us that now is the time to raise taxes on the Canadian economy, just when we're in the early stages of a fragile recovery," Harper said Monday. "So I would encourage everybody in Parliament to focus on the real needs of the economy and not on politicking and electoral positioning and game playing."
Harper's election push-back comes on the heels of a new poll that found support for him and his party continue to rise.
The Nanos Research survey found that 39.7 per cent of committed voters would cast their ballots for the Tories, up from 38.1 per cent in December. The Liberal fortunes, on the other hand, are headed downward. The poll found that 26.6 per cent of committed voters would cast their ballots for the Grits, down from 31.2 per cent.
Despite the uptick in support, as well as his party's recent release of a series of campaign-style attack aids aimed at Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, Harper denied that he is preparing for an election as he and his team head toward budget day.
"The public does not want an election (and) I do not want an election," Harper said. "The government is preparing to govern and we will present a budget that is in the interest of the Canadian economy."
