Liberals, NDP to unveil platform planks
By Laura Payton, CBC News
Posted: Mar 29, 2011 1:29 AM ET
Last Updated: Mar 29, 2011 3:40 AM ET
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Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff kisses a young supporter at a rally as he campaigns in Mississauga, Ont., Monday. Ryan Remiorz/Canadian PressThe Liberals and NDP are expected to reveal the first planks of their campaign platforms Tuesday as Day Four of the federal election campaign gets underway.
Both parties are emphasizing record debt levels among Canadians as they prepare to unveil measures they say will help low-income and middle-class families.
The Liberal plan will include enhancements to the Registered Education Savings Program (RESP) program, in which the federal government essentially matches part of parents' contributions, CBC News has learned.
Scott Brison, the Liberal candidate in Kings-Hants, N.S., says Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is going to talk about money for post-secondary education during his first campaign stop Tuesday in Oakville, Ont.
NDP Leader Jack Layton greets supporters during a campaign stop in Moose Jaw, Sask. on Monday. Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press"You’re going to see real investments in middle-class Canadian families who are struggling, who are dealing now with record levels of personal debt, $1.50 of debt for every dollar of annual income," Brison said on CBC-TV's Power & Politics with Evan Solomon.
"You'll see a real plan to help Canadian families who are struggling to pay for post-secondary education. A real help for Canadian families who recognize the importance of learning, but don't know how they're going to pay for it."
Ignatieff will leave Ontario and Quebec for the first time in the campaign when he heads to Vancouver Tuesday afternoon for a town hall-style event in Vancouver South, followed by a nighttime rally in Richmond, just outside Vancouver.
Vancouver South, currently held by Liberal MP and former B.C. premier Ujjal Dosanjh, is expected to be a close race. Dosanjh won by 20 votes in the 2008 election.
Harper in Sask.; Layton hits Ont.
NDP Leader Jack Layton will hit Brantford, Ont., Tuesday morning to make an announcement about a plan to make credit cards less expensive. The NDP has pushed for laws regulating credit card interest rates and fees and also want to limit credit card solicitation of young people.
Layton will visit Kitchener, Ont., in the afternoon.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is going to Regina for an event Tuesday morning, followed by a late afternoon rally in Winnipeg.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, Green Party Leader Elizabeth May is canvassing in her Saanich, B.C., riding and has an evening event planned.
