With federal pre-election speculation ramping up this week, Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris said Monday his government does not want an election.
"I can tell you, honestly, our focus is not on another election. I don't think the Canadian people's focus is on another election," said Harris.
"We're going to concentrate on jobs and the economy. That's the place people want us to be," he added.
There are expected to be several opportunities for the opposition parties to bring down the minority Conservative government this week, perhaps as early as Wednesday.
All three opposition parties have to vote against the Conservatives to bring down the government
The Conservatives bring in a budget today, with the Liberals positioned Friday to vote against it. But it's possible that Wednesday or Thursday the House of Commons will vote on a contempt finding by a Parliamentary committee, which found the government was in contempt for its refusal to fully disclose the cost of its tough-on-crime agenda, corporate tax cuts and the purchase of stealth fighter jets.
The NDP has been considered the best chance to support the budget, as the Conservatives have already hinted they may extend benefits to seniors and workers.
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has said he's considering increasing support to seniors under the Guaranteed Income Supplement, as well as extending support for older workers and those in work-share programs. The worker programs provided benefits in Northern B.C. during the recession.
The New Democrats have laid out a list of demands that also include removing the harmonized sales tax from home heating, reinstating a home eco-retrofit program and training more nurses and doctors.
The package would cost about $1 billion -- $600 million to $700 million for the increased senior's support.
The costs could be offset by removing a special tax credit for oil sands projects, say the NDP.
"If there's a program or benefits we can give to seniors, we're sure going to do it," Harris said Monday.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen said, however, he does not have a read on whether the Conservatives will respond to his party's demands.
It's perhaps more likely the Conservatives will first respond to a $2.2-billion deal, already in the works, on the harmonized sales tax in Quebec, said Cullen.
But the party's resolve has gone up as the ethical scandals have piled up, said Cullen, whose riding stretches from B.C.'s northcoast to Fort St. James, just west of Prince George.
In addition to the contempt charge that will come to Parliament, Prime Minister Stephen Harper asked the RCMP to investigate a former top advisor after media reports the advisor lobbied government officials on behalf of a company in which his girlfriend worked.
"We've made ourselves totally ready for a campaign," said Cullen.
Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has been taking a hard line on the budget, saying if the Conservatives don't back down from corporate tax cuts, they will vote against it.
Recent polling continues to put the Tories ahead of each of the three opposition parties.
- With Canadian Press.
