VANCOUVER — NDP Leader Jack Layton is joining the election campaign's three-way fight for the suburban vote.
He's spending his second campaign day in Surrey, B.C., just outside Vancouver, where he hopes the NDP can gain a seat last won by Conservative Dona Cadman.
Layton is hoping to revive the anger many British Columbians felt about the provincial and federal governments working together to impose the Harmonized Sales Tax.
"New Democrats were first or second to the Conservatives in two-thirds of B.C. ridings," Layton told a town hall meeting. "And that was before every single Conservative MP voted Yes to the HST."
The party is also focused on the nearby riding of Newton-North Delta, held by the Liberals.
All three parties are doting on the suburbs, partly because suburban populations are growing and changing so quickly that political opinions are in flux and many seats are up for grabs.
The Conservatives have already been to the Toronto suburbs, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is heading in that direction, too.
In Surrey, Layton will stress the NDP is the most effective choice for voters who want to get rid of the Conservatives -- especially in British Columbia.
"After the HST fiasco, I would say that British Columbians are ready to send the Ottawa Conservatives a message and kick Stephen Harper out of office," Layton said.
He will also highlight the Conservatives' treatment of the Komagatu Maru incident of 1914, when Canada turned away almost 400 people on a boat from India. Many of the passengers died after a confrontation with British soldiers.
The federal government under Harper apologized for the tragedy, but did not make the apology formal in the House of Commons -- something the NDP criticized on Sunday.
"What's the point of flashing images of the Komagata Maru in ads when that party refuses to apologize for the injustice to the community in the House of Commons?" Layton said.
Surrey has a large Sikh population.
Layton also promised to put forward concrete plans to create jobs in Canada, help caregivers to cope with aging parents, and give families better access to child care and education.
Layton has not yet waded into the raging debate about the dangers of a coalition government.
While Harper accuses the opposition leaders of crafting a dangerous deal in secret, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff denies he will get involved in a coalition, Layton has said he is open to working with anyone to get things done, be it on a case-by-case basis or a more formal coalition-like agreement.
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110327/110327_layton_vancouver/20110327/?hub=CP24Home
He's spending his second campaign day in Surrey, B.C., just outside Vancouver, where he hopes the NDP can gain a seat last won by Conservative Dona Cadman.
Layton is hoping to revive the anger many British Columbians felt about the provincial and federal governments working together to impose the Harmonized Sales Tax.
"New Democrats were first or second to the Conservatives in two-thirds of B.C. ridings," Layton told a town hall meeting. "And that was before every single Conservative MP voted Yes to the HST."
The party is also focused on the nearby riding of Newton-North Delta, held by the Liberals.
All three parties are doting on the suburbs, partly because suburban populations are growing and changing so quickly that political opinions are in flux and many seats are up for grabs.
The Conservatives have already been to the Toronto suburbs, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is heading in that direction, too.
In Surrey, Layton will stress the NDP is the most effective choice for voters who want to get rid of the Conservatives -- especially in British Columbia.
"After the HST fiasco, I would say that British Columbians are ready to send the Ottawa Conservatives a message and kick Stephen Harper out of office," Layton said.
He will also highlight the Conservatives' treatment of the Komagatu Maru incident of 1914, when Canada turned away almost 400 people on a boat from India. Many of the passengers died after a confrontation with British soldiers.
The federal government under Harper apologized for the tragedy, but did not make the apology formal in the House of Commons -- something the NDP criticized on Sunday.
"What's the point of flashing images of the Komagata Maru in ads when that party refuses to apologize for the injustice to the community in the House of Commons?" Layton said.
Surrey has a large Sikh population.
Layton also promised to put forward concrete plans to create jobs in Canada, help caregivers to cope with aging parents, and give families better access to child care and education.
Layton has not yet waded into the raging debate about the dangers of a coalition government.
While Harper accuses the opposition leaders of crafting a dangerous deal in secret, and Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff denies he will get involved in a coalition, Layton has said he is open to working with anyone to get things done, be it on a case-by-case basis or a more formal coalition-like agreement.
http://www.cp24.com/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110327/110327_layton_vancouver/20110327/?hub=CP24Home
