The U.S. at risk without majority border accord: Harper

Canada needs a strong conservative majority to protect trade relations with the United States, Stephen Harper said Thursday, adding that an agreement of border security with the neighbour to the South of the country is also at risk.

The Conservative leader said that without a Conservative Government: "the vision of the border would be dead."

The border agreement signed earlier this year by Harper and U.S. President Barack Obama was intended to support security at the border while foster trade and economic growth between the two countries.

"One in five jobs in the Canada is tied to trade with the United States," said Harper, who was in Niagara Falls, to talk about the importance of international trade with the United States and its commitment to the signing of new trade agreements.

The deal "will help to reinforce and strengthen our trade relations to complement the economic recovery and create jobs."

But the Union representing customs and immigration officers breakdown Harper Thursday, saying that it has closed the local centres of intelligence, points border land of entry and reduced opening hours.

"The Harper Government has previously prioritized effective border security in the course of the bureaucratic indifference, that is why their counterproductive acceptance of these decisions is so disturbing," Customs and Immigration Union said in a statement.

"I hope that this leadership will be once more demonstrated in concrete actions and not words;" This is what Canadians deserve.

The Conservative leader has also used his liberal message distance once more his party from the NDP, saying that his opposition to foreign trade agreements is "ideological" and his point of view "have not changed since the cold war."

"The NDP opposed every trade agreement that we signed" said Harper.

Harper moves his message of the campaign to focus the attack on "a coalition of opposition led by the NDP."

Until now, Harper has spent the campaign pitching its curators as an alternative to a coalition of the opposition Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff-led parties.

Harper continues to highlight the message that the Canada is in need of a strong majority, but surge to campaign for the end of the NDP in the polls apparently forced Harper to change its main target.

Harper said the choice is between a conservative majority government and a Parliament led to the minority, which he said would raise taxes and spending.

"It would be this huge step backwards, and Canadians must understand how radically different choices are really when you are looking to two parliaments, with a conservative majority, the other a minority Parliament with a rickety coalition, led by the NDP which will not last."", but that will do many things of destruction" said harper.

Harper also criticized plan of the NDP for a system of limits and Exchange, stating that their proposal would hike to the rising prices at the gas pump

"The NDP proposes 20 billion dollars in carbon taxes," he said. "It is at least 10 cents per litre gasoline and many other big increases in consumption".

Harper appeared to be referring to the figures cited by the economist Jack Mintz, who tweeted Thursday a ""NDP CAP and Exchange at $40 per tonne of carbon will be a 10 cents go hiking in the gasoline tax. ""

Mintz is found by his calculations after a history of Globe and Mail said later that his characters were based on the erroneous assumption that the NDP would include fossil fuels using consumers.

"Cap- and -Exchange on the refining will certainly increase the price of gas." Let's get realistic, "tweeted Mintz."

During this time, Layton shot back that gas companies are undue Canadian and that Harper has done nothing to stop it.

It suggested to toughen up laws on competition and establishing a special mediator to put pressure on oil companies.

"We want to start with competition law," said Layton. "It is what we first of all because it is not used correctly." Mr. Harper has clearly no desire to go after the oil companies. "He is too busy giving them subsidies."

NDP leader, Jack Layton poses with Jacq Brewer at a stop of the campaign in Yellowknife Thursday (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

Recent public opinion polls have shown that the Conservatives and the Liberals are all two losing support to the NDP.

The NDP has moved into second place in most national polls behind the conservatives.

That change also caused the Liberals aim their criticism more marked in the NDP.

Even former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien used his speech on Wednesday to take a jab at the NDP.

"And I checked the program of the NDP," said the former Prime Minister.

"Nobody had read until a few days ago.". Apparently this is not adding up. ?

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WikiLeaks cable notes Senate "Harper flip-flops."

WikiLeaks has published hundreds of documents U.S. Thursday, including those with comments about the "reversal" of the Harper Government on appointments to the Senate, remarks on Liberals "developed muted" response to the crisis of the extension and the criticism of the failure of the Canada to adopt the reform of copyright law.

A flight of December 2008 cable suggests that officials of the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa saw appointment of Stephen Harper of senators as "a volte-face for a PM and a party that has long campaigned for a Chamber high elected." The cost of the new eighteen Senators also conflict with political messaging on the need for a belt tightening official. ?

The cable goes on to say, however, that "Harper will not pay a political price." "The most ardent advocates of the reform of the Senate are conservative in Western Canada."

Another cable from January 2009 suggested that representatives of the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa had been keeping a close eye on the events of December 2008 in the House of Commons and the request of the Prime Minister to have Governor General Mich?elle Jean prorogue Parliament.

"Ms. Jean and Prime Minister Harper to have a cordial but cool, relationship" said the cable leak.

He goes on to say that "some conservatives have been suspect his sympathies private lean to the centre-left of the spectrum policy and suggested her husband alleged separatist sentiments can influence his own political views" in dealing with the political stalemate.

Another flight of January 2010 document refers to the question of the extension, this time with the criticism of the handling of the Federal Liberal Party of the crisis, suggesting the party at the time was experiencing "a lack of energy and leadership practice".

"The Liberals face a difficult route to come if they hope to beat the Conservatives at the next federal election - that either in 2010 or 2011.".

Output cables also contains one of January, 2010, in which the Ambassador of the United States to the Canada has been cited as being critical of the "tough on crime" position of the Harper Government.

"The Conservatives have used the order of the day of the crime to great effect, making it an essential element of their"mark,"despite the fact that they were not successful in reality most of their proposed crime and safety legislation""," said the cable.

In 2009, a leakage cable discusses how "the Canada traditionally liberal universities have often displayed some anti-American prejudice" and goes on to say that "perennial to differentiate his desire neighbour great some anti-Americanism will inevitably creep back in public and academic discourse for the Canada".

Another cable also makes reference to Canadian support for United States, this time in a document leak of 26 March 2003, relating to a meeting where the war in Iraq has been discussed.

The meeting - between the coast guard of Halifax and Rear Admiral Glenn Davidson - included commentary from Davidson that "he is strong enough for the war in the military services." Many of its Navy officers and staff registered feel that they should be part of the war effort. ?

The cable leak says Davidson raised concerns that the decision of Ottawa do not go to the Iraq can damage the close relationship with the US Army.

A cable of February 29, 2008, suggests that the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa was unhappy with the progress made by the Federal Government on the law of copyright.

"Embassy Ottawa remains frustrated by default continuous of the Government of the Canada introduce - let alone pass - great laws of reform of copyright law that would, among other things, to implement and ratify the world Organization intellectual property treated Internet (WIPO)""," explains the cable.

A document from November 2008 deals with the appointment of Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

An official of the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa described Cannon as "an experienced and competent administrator who is likely to provide stability to a Department which has had four Ministers since the Conservatives took office in 2006".

Cable calls the new Minister "one of the few in the conservative national caucus with experience in Government" and said "he won high marks as a competent administrator and an advisor to confidence to PM Harper.".

A spokesman for the Embassy of the United States in Ottawa was not immediately available for comment, reports the Canadian Press.

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Harper mainstreets backyard of BC.

Stephen Harper takes his campaign to a dead end Victoria Sunday, where the conservative camp and the media descended on a suburban house.

Conservative leader spent the morning of Easter baskets and decorate eggs with a group of children and participated in an Easter egg hunt. Owner Rose Cowles runs a studio of small artist out of the back of the House where she teaches children's art classes.

Harper used the backdrop to talk about tax credit for children arts first announced on the 2008 campaign trail and has promised in the budget on March 22.

Stephen Harper and Laureen Harper wife help Ava de Souza find eggs during an Easter egg hunt in Royal Oak, b.c., Sunday. Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press

Harper is in the hope of gaining ground in British Columbia Colombia may 2, where several swing constituencies could hold the key for a conservative majority.

After the Easter holiday, Harper took the crowd outside where he took questions from the media.

Harper has yet responded to questions about Vancouver-southern conservatives, Wai Young candidate, who came under fire for accepting an endorsement of Ripudaman Singh Malik, businessman local Sikh linked to individuals convicted in the bombing of Air India.

It sticks to its candidate, and his explanation that it simply did not know that Malik was when she accepted the endorsement, Harper said. Young has since the endorsement of Malik was dismissed.

Harper was also questioned on the issue of whether he can be trusted with a majority government. Harper has said that his file and the sound management of the economy prove there are trustworthy. It did not address the question of whether Canadians can be trusted, because several campaign promises - including a commitment to not run a deficit - were broken.

Conservative leader participated in a rally Saturday with conservative candidate John Duncan of Campbell River, part of the North of the island of Vancouver riding.

Duncan recaptured its former headquarters in the apparition of Vancouver Island in a tight race in 2008, beating NDP incumbent Catherine Bell.

"We know about the NDP here." "And we know better," Duncan told supporters at the rally.

Harper also blown Democrats, criticizing the party leader Jack Layton on the register of firearms.

"Mr. Layton and his partner says no to new to the waiver of rights because they support the firearms registry," Harper said. "Do not register of weapons fire and should not be your taxes to pay for it."

The NDP took heat from all sides as the Liberals, the Conservatives and Bloc Québécois after a series of polls suggested increased support for it.

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Public Opinion Angus Reid, said he expected that the apparent rise in support of the NDP will be a major issue in the last week of the campaign.

"One of the main things that has happened in the last 48 hours, now we have advertisements tories attacking NDP," he said. "" "". This is something that we never thought would be possible a few weeks ago. ?

The Conservatives held 21 seats 36 Colombia-British in the election, while the NDP held five Liberals and nine. A single seat was vacant.

Harper has been developed to make appearances in Victoria and Vancouver Sunday before heading to Ontario.

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Don't try to govern 2nd place: Harper

Conservative leader Stephen Harper said that he would not attempt to form a Government if another party won a majority of seats in the elections and his party came in second place.

In an interview exclusive with CBC Peter Mansbridge was released Thursday afternoon, Harper said that if Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff or the leader of the NDP, Jack Layton, won the election, but were unable to win the confidence of the House, he would not attempt to try to take power.

"They will form the Government," said Harper.

"I think that if the other guys win, they get a shot to the Government, and I do not think that challenge you that unless you are ready to return to the people."

Harper said he rejected an offer made by the Governor General to try to form a Government.

"So you would say the Governor General," "not, would not do that?" "" ". Mansbridge was asked.

"Yes, absolutely," he said, adding that people want another election.

On the campaign trail, Harper has repeatedly warned that if his party fails to win a majority government, the opposition would work on an arrangement to seize power.

But when Mansbridge pressed Harper on if they have this right under parliamentary rules, Harper said it is a matter of constitutional law debate.

"I do not think most Canadians would still be very surprised if they elected a minority conservative and discovered that they had some completely different from the Government.". "I think that this would be a shock of people," said Harper.

"In my opinion, is that Canadians expect the party that wins the election to govern the country." I think that any other thing that the public would not buy. ?

On Tuesday, said Ignatieff Mansbridge would be willing to form a Government under parliamentary rules if Harper wins the most seats in the election but not unable to win the confidence of the House of Commons.

"If the Governor wants to call on other parties, or myself, for example, to try and form a Government, then we attempt to form a Government", said Ignatieff.

"This is exactly how the rules, and what I'm trying to say Canadians is, I understand the rules, I respect the rules, I will follow them to the letter and I'm not going to form a coalition." This I am ready to do so is to speak to Mr. Duceppe and Mr. Layton or even Mr. Harper and say, "we have a problem and here's the plan I want to put before the Parliament, it is the budget I would bring in ' and then 'We take from there. ?

Harper again rejected the charges made by Jack Layton and Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe was ready to seize du pouvoir an agreement of coalition after their arrival in the second of the Paul Martin Liberals in 2004.

Duceppe and Layton stated that the three leaders came together and wrote a letter to tell and then Governor General Adrienne Clarkson that Harper was prepared to form a Government if Martin lost the confidence of the House of Commons.

But Harper refused the intention of the letter.

"The option I was talking about is that we were trying to influence the Government program, and if we want to defeat the Government, we must get our own mandate." I never suggested otherwise. ?

Earlier Thursday, said Harper correspondence between one of the members of its staff and the Ethics Commissioner in 2009 about a possible conflict of interest involving Bruce Carson showed that his Office follows the rules of conflict of interest.

Conservative campaign officials have published two letters of 2009 late Wednesday indicating top of page help, Guy Giorno, and Harper then contacted the Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson on Carson, a former Advisor Harper, who has since accused foreign lobbying violations.

The letters warned the conflict of interest possible Commissioner, measures Prime Minister's Office had taken to resolve it and described additional measures taken to remove Carson of potential conflict in the pre-budget process.

"I think that what shows the correspondence is that my Office ensures at all times that the conflict of interest rules are applied," Harper said during a campaign in the South, N.L. Conception Bay

"They have been applied in this case, the matter has been satisfactorily resolved."

Harper not answer when asked what he knew on the correspondence with the Ethics Commissioner 2009

Office of the Prime Minister called the mounted police last month to investigate the allegations of pressure Carson may have illegally on Government in 2010 on behalf of a corporation to filter water using his girlfriend.

Carson, who had already been found guilty of the charges of fraud not related, said that he would take a leave of absence from his position as Executive Director of the base of Calgary Canada School of Energy and the environment while the RCMP probe was underway.

Research and the Organization pedagogical announced Thursday the appointment of Richard Hyndman as the Acting Director General, entered into force immediately. Carson is not mentioned in the press release.

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Ignatieff campaign of Harper in New Brunswick

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff responds to a question during an appearance of media in Winnipeg on Tuesday. (Jonathan Hayward/Canadian Press)

Conservative leader Stephen Harper and Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff headed east to New Brunswick day 26 of the campaign, while Jack Layton tries to ensure support NDP in Ontario.

Ignatieff will spend Wednesday morning in Saint John, including a meeting with the local Liberals and an appearance in a museum.

The Liberals lost the southern New Brunswick riding for the conservatives in 2008 by fewer than 500 votes. The Liberals have the Deputy Mayor of Saint John are running in the riding.

Ignatieff said in an interview with CBC News last week that the Liberals would be willing to cover some of approximately $ 1 billion in overruns on the Point Lepreau Nuclear renovation project. Only nuclear reactor of the Atlantic Canada is located about 30 km west of Saint John.

Liberal leader then in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, to lead a campaign rally in the evening.

Harper begins the day in Québec with an event of campaign with the candidates in the region to Rivière-du-Loup, prior to New Brunswick.

The Conservative leader will appear at Edmundston, N.B., with Bernard Valcourt, former Minister of the cabinet of Brian Mulroney which seeks to return to federal politics in the electoral district of the North-West of Madawaska — Restigouche.

Valcourt is often known for a motorcycle accident serious, in which he lost his right eye. After losing the 1993 election, Valcourt served as the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party in New Brunswick.

Harper will then move to Fredericton, New Brunswick a venue that the Conservatives fought away from the Liberals in 2008.

Jack Layton, new democratic party leader will spend the day in Ontario, including a campaign event in the counties of Essex and the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario hotel meeting.

Bloc Québécois leader, Gilles Duceppe meeting with the local media in Farnham, Que., Wednesday morning, followed by a visit to a centre of textile in Saint-Hyacinthe and Drummondville plant visit. It encapsulates the day with a rally in Quebec City in the evening.

Green party leader Elizabeth may heads back to the Colombia British Columbia, where she is fighting against conservative incumbent Gary Lunn in the riding of Saanich-Gulf Islands.

May meet with the citizens on issues relating to disability in Saanich and attend a Chamber of commerce candidates gathered in Sidney, in the evening.

Ignatieff said in an exclusive interview with CBC News Tuesday, that he would be willing to form a Government if the Conservative Party won the most seats in the election but failed to win the confidence of Parliament.

In the interview with Peter Mansbridge, CBC, Ignatieff said that he would try to form a Government if called by the Governor General.

It is the nearest Ignatieff came to describe how he could become Prime Minister since his first day of the campaign to renounce a coalition with the NDP and the Bloc Québécois.

Harper said that ignatieff finally admits that he is open to try to become Prime Minister, with the support of the NDP and the Bloc.

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No discussion of estate of monarchy for Harper

Conservative leader Stephen Harper speaks at a campaign event, at Yellowknife NWT, Monday. Frank Gunn/Canadian Press

Conservative leader Stephen Harper said that he is not interested in wading in a debate on whether to change the system of the Royal estate.

Critics of the Act, 300 years have used the upcoming marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton to call for an overhaul of the system of 300 years in Britain, saying: it is time to make equality of the sexes in the rules of succession of the country.

This system currently provides son automatic preference over his brothers and sisters aged females to succeed to the British Throne. This means that Middleton had a daughter and a son, the daughter would be transmitted to the wire and the son would become King when William dies or leaves his throne.

Any modification to the rule would affect the Canadian constitution and requires the support of the Canada and other countries of the Commonwealth.

John key for the New Zealand Prime Minister has already said that it supports the reform proposal.

However, when asked about the proposal during a campaign stop in the Northwest Territories Monday, Harper said that he was not the time for such a debate. He also noted the two of then successively - Prince Charles and his eldest son, Prince William - are men.

"The successor to the throne is a man," said Harper. "The next successor to the throne is a man." I do not want Canadians to open a debate on the monarchy or constitutional issues at this time.

"It is our position, and I just see that as a priority for Canadians now to all the".

Other federal party leaders have not weighed on the question.

Any legal change would not affect Charles of Princes or William, since they have more older sisters who could leapfrog if these new rules have been adopted. And the issue would be moot for another generation if the first child of Middleton was a boy.

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"Modest" Harper vows cuts but offers few details

Conservative leader Stephen Harper said that a Conservative Government would be "modest" spending cuts to eliminate the deficit more rapidly than expected in its budget on March 22.

"The operational savings that we are looking for are modest," Harper said during a campaign in Acton Vale, Quebec, judgment Sunday morning.

"$ 80 Billion of operating over a period of three years, we're going to shave five percent offshore," he said.

Harper has been challenged by journalists to provide details of reductions needed to accelerate the reduction of the deficit while paying for the new tax cuts announced during the campaign, but would not provide details of the expenditure.

"I told you before, a couple of areas on which we focus." This is what people expect from the Government. "To keep costs under control of operating and to continue to provide services," he said, adding that the reductions would not affect the "fundamental" programs.

"Someone who says that you can't find no money in Ottawa without people cutting vital services is simply living in a fantasy world." This is not how the Government works. There are inefficiencies and it is your work constantly to find them. "This is what we do and that is what we will continue to do," Harper said.

On Saturday, said that a Conservative Government would reduce operating expenditure by attrition, noting that 80,000 federal officials are set to retire in the next few years to find the efficiency in the Harper Government computer systems.

Michael Ignatieff accused Harper of hiding "a $ 11 billion hole" in its platform by retailer does not budget expenditures. Harper hit Sunday to comments of the leader of the Liberal Party.

"You want to discuss the costs of fantasy, Michael Ignatieff has done in this campaign 28 $ billion promises which do not appear in its platform," said Harper, pointing to a deal HST for Quebec, bridge repairs in Montréal, a program national druget of money for the "professional arenas" and a "high-speed train".

Ignatieff said the Liberals would be open to contribute funds for a project arena, in Quebec City however last week, has said he favours the service train at high speed between Ontario and Quebec, the country does not have it now.

Harper was also behind the decision of his party to buy 65 F - 35 joint strike fighter jets, saying that a memorandum of understanding with the manufacturer means that Canada will be free from any increase in the costs of research and development.

"On the F-35, I think that we have been clear: have been detailed briefings of the Department of national defence on this subject, there is a memorandum of understanding that is displayed (online)". "."We are sheltered from research and development costs, Harper said.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office report last week raised new concerns regarding costs of fighter aircraft. The Conservative Government has said that the pricetag for each jet would be $ 75 million, with 200 to 300 million total annual maintenance costs.

Harper said to journalists in French that the agreements mean the U.S. will pay additional development costs and Canada will take delivery of the aircraft at a fixed price.

The GAO report, explains development costs will push the price of the jets over 120 million (US) each, and others have estimated that the costs are higher. Monitoring of the parliamentary budget of the Canada reported this year that cost of jets during their life cycle of 30 years will be a billion more than the figures published by the Ministry of defence.

The industry already has the jet contract, Harper said.

"It is a good case for the country, the fantasy is the other side. That somehow they will come with some thin air aircraft and they don't even know what that plane, they will still buy airplanes, they say, but they do not know aircraft and they have not any agreement"he says.

The name of a former Liberal Prime Minister was mentioned when it Harper was asked why he did not refer to Pierre Trudeau by name when he compared the promises of Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff to liberal policies of the 1970s.

"Comparison of obviously, I'm getting is the fact that we all know, in 1972 and 1974, when we had a Liberal Government that relied on the NDP for ongoing support, they did spend money"."," leading to high deficits, Harper said.

"Mr. Trudeau died some time ago...". I think it's probably a little unfair to bash someone in the Tomb. "He is not here to defend himself," Harper continues. As you know, Mr. Trudeau have a different philosophy of the Government, a philosophy of the high-spending, a centralizing philosophy, and this is not the philosophy of this (conservative) Government."

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