The federal Conservatives' deficit budget unveiled Tuesday was rejected by all three opposition parties, setting the stage for an election in early May.
The budget had been aimed largely at gaining NDP support to thwart a non-confidence defeat, but leader Jack Layton said the budget does not contain enough to support it. All three opposition parties must vote against the minority Conservatives to bring down the government.
"Unfortunately, there's not enough for us to support the budget," said Prince George-Peace River NDP candidate Lois Boone.
Layton left the door open to supporting the budget if there were changes, but Finance Minister Jim Flaherty immediately said there would be no changes.
A non-confidence vote could come as early as this week.
A by-election is imminent in Prince George-Peace River, so Boone will be involved in a campaign whether or not a general election occurs.
"We're ready," she said from Dawson Creek where she was campaigning in preparation for the by-election.
The New Democrats had laid out a list of demands that included increased senior's support, removing the harmonized sales tax from home heating, reinstating a home eco-retrofit program and training more nurses and doctors.
The Conservatives did reinstate the home retrofit program and provide $300 million in increased support for seniors with a top-up benefit for low-income seniors, but took no action on home heating.
The NDP was seeking support for seniors of $700 million.
Boone said while the Conservative budget contained some support for seniors, it is not enough. She contended there are 250,000 seniors living in poverty in Canada.
"The budget doesn't address those concerns," she said.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen said he didn't expect the government would last out the week, particularly since the Conservatives have said the budget is etched in stone.
"It looks like almost for certain we are looking at a campaign," he said from Ottawa.
Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris argued the budget had met concerns over seniors, and also offered help for families and industries important to northern B.C.
"If the opposition parties want to vote against all of these things, it's their choice," he said. "This budget is focused on sustaining recovery from the recession and maintaining jobs in the economy."
What's in it for northern B.C.?
Among the items that would impact northern B.C., the Conservative's budget included a new initiative to attract health care workers to rural and remote communities by forgiving up to $40,000 in student loans for doctors and $20,000 for nurses.
The $287.7 billion budget, with a projected deficit of $29.6-billion, also included $60 million to help forestry companies innovate and tap into new markets abroad. The funding would help continue efforts -- in concert with the B.C. government and industry -- to expand lumber markets in China.
As part of its budget announcements, the federal government also said it will allow the Crown corporation Ridley Terminals Inc. to borrow from capital markets so it can expand its facilities.
The terminal has essentially reached its coal-handling capacity, which has caused fears that coal production in northeast B.C. could be hampered by the bottleneck.
