Tone down Tory agenda in new Parliament, Layton tells PM

By Mike De Souza
Canwest News Service

New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton says Stephen Harper should remember that more Canadians voted against him than for him and as such, he should be accommodating to the wishes of the opposition parties. (Tyler Anderson/National Post)

TORONTO - NDP Leader Jack Layton warned Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday to tone down his Conservative agenda, show more flexibility and focus on the concerns of ordinary Canadians if he wants the new minority Parliament to get things done.     

"I would call on the prime minister to abandon the tactic and approach that he used in the last Parliament - `My way or the highway,"' Layton told reporters at a Bay Street hotel in Toronto. "I think he should realize that far more Canadians voted against his government than voted for it. He should respect Parliament and respect the results of the election and we'll proceed in the recognition of that fact."     

Layton did not highlight specific elements of the Conservative agenda that should be changed to make the new Parliament work, but acknowledged that the NDP's positions are well known on controversial issues such as Harper's plan to toughen youth criminal justice legislation.     

He also said that he would urge Harper to support NDP proposals to increase funding for training workers through strategic investments that would provide incentives for companies to create and retain Canadian jobs.     

"We've got to knuckle down immediately on behalf of Canadians and focus on the economic turbulence that we're facing and on the issues of what I've called in this election `the real economy,"' Layton said.     

Layton also called on the government to be transparent about the state of Canada's economy and any details it knows about potential weaknesses in Canadian banks as a result of global economic turmoil.

"There has been speculation and discussion in the media about the situation of the banks and I think it's very important for that discussion to be held with the leaders of the parties and for Canadians to be fully informed as to what's taking place," Layton said. "Elsewhere in the world there is a very open and public discussion of these matters and it's time that took place here and now."     

Layton acknowledged that the New Democrats had not succeeded in his goal of forming a government. But, he said, he is still working, step by step, on a plan to become prime minister following breakthroughs for the NDP in Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Quebec, where the party elected an MP in a general election for the first time in its history.     

"I'm very satisfied that we were successful in putting the issues of everyday families onto the agenda of the election and I think that that was a very important thing to do," Layton said. "Of course, we still have some more work to do before I will be able to succeed in the campaign to become prime minister."     

"We will be able to build on the foundation of the results today and we have no intention of abandoning that project. In fact, we're in a stronger position to pursue it now with some important new seats that we've been able to win."     

The party also saw its support grow in several industrial regions of Ontario that have been suffering the effects of a downturn in the forestry and manufacturing sectors. The election results also suggest that the New Democrats have moved past the Liberals as the second-most popular party for Canadians who live west of Toronto.     

Overall, the NDP gained seven seats and improved its share of the popular vote by just under one per cent of the vote, to 18 per cent of voter support.     

Layton added that he was disappointed in the decreasing voter turnout, suggesting that it's another reason to introduce electoral reform and a proportional voting system.