Stuffed cat calls leaders' debate for Layton

Even the official campaign cat was part of the crowd of Tony Martin supporters who gathered last night at the Delta Waterfront Hotel and Conference Centre to watch the leaders debate.

Seen with the politically shrewd feline are Emily Colombo, Glenn Gustafson, Mary Ledlow, Lisa Vezeau-Allen, Tony Martin, Jeff Arbus and Janet Wright.

"I thought it was a good debate with an interesting format," Martin said. "It gave the different leaders a chance to expound, to be challenged and to respond. In that we heard a lot and we got a sense where each of them were coming from."

Layton spoke most clearly and confidently to the things many Saultites are most concerned about, he said.

Martin gave an example of a senior he met this past weekend who ivited him into the trailer she's living in.

"She invited me to sit at the table and she spread out her heating bills from the winter," the incumbent MP said. "Three months running, the HST alone was $40, $30 and $50."

The New Democrats are promising to remove the HST from home heating bills.

Layton's strongest showing last night, said Martin, was in the question asked about health care.

"He was clear about what people need now, not just five years from now, in their health care," Martin said. "He had specific proposals that are in our platform."

Martin said that the NDP platform will specifically serve people of Northern Ontario well because it includes plans to significantly increase access to primary medical care close to home.

It also includes plans to increase access to alternative levels of care for seniors at home and in assisted-living situations and it provides more drug benefits for Canadians.

"I thought that Jack did well, that he was the only one with his feet on the ground and that he spoke to the needs of people right now," said Martin. "He spoke to the needs of the people of Northern Ontario."

Martin said that Michael Ignatieff's poor attendance in the House of Commons damaged his credibility and Harper's government is the only one in the history of Canada to ever be declared in contempt of the House.

"I think people in this community see me as an honest straight-shooter," he said. "Once I'm elected I'm the MP for all of the people, not just those who voted for me."

The full text of releases from the Conservative, Liberal and NDP federal parties follow. ************************* Conservatives: a clear choice for Canadians

This evening, Prime Minister Stephen Harper laid out the clear choice facing Canadians.

They will choose between a stable, national, Conservative majority government that will keep taxes low to create jobs and a reckless unstable coalition government led by Michael Ignatieff with the support of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois, that will pursue a high-tax agenda, kill jobs and set families back.

Prime Minister Harper stated clearly that the economy remains the top priority of this country and its citizens.

He articulated the Conservative low-tax plan for jobs and growth and contrasted it with the high tax agenda of the opposition coalition.

The choice is clear, he said.

The Conservative low-tax plan that will strengthen the financial security of Canadian families or the opposition plan of tax increases that will kill jobs and set Canadian families back.

Harper pointed to the recent budget introduced by the Conservative government, the next phase of Canada’s economic action plan, that maintained our low tax plan for jobs and growth while investing in important priorities to help families, such as financial assistance for the country’s most vulnerable seniors, support for family caregivers and tax breaks for families with children taking art or music classes.

Rather than support these positive measures for Canadians, the opposition coalition chose opportunistically to trigger an unnecessary election.

The opposition parties made it clear tonight that political opportunism will continue to trump principle unless Canadians elect a stable, majority Conservative government.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff made clear his agenda to become prime minister with the support of the NDP and Bloc Quebecois.

An Ignatieff-led coalition would usher in a period of instability, jeopardize Canada’s economic recovery, and trigger more elections at a critical time when efforts should be focused on securing the future of Canada and the financial security of Canadians.

************************* To read the Liberal and NDP statements, please click here.