Federal leaders come out swinging as Jan. 23 election set

Party leaders came out swinging Tuesday after Parliament was officially dissolved, triggering the longest federal election campaign in a quarter-century that will end with a vote on Jan. 23 in the throes of winter.

Prime Minister Paul Martin leaves Rideau Hall in Ottawa with his wife Sheila, Tuesday, Nov. 29. (CP Photo/Tom Hanson)

• FROM NOV. 28, 2005: Liberals lose confidence of the House

Prime Minister Paul Martin emerged from Rideau Hall to announce that Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean had dissolved Parliament at his request.

The election call came a day after Martin's Liberal minority government fell in a no-confidence vote, a year and five months after it was voted into office.

• RELATED: Canada Votes 2006

The campaign, at 55 days, will be the longest since Joe Clark's Conservative government fell in 1979, resulting in a 66-day campaign that ended with the re-election of Pierre Trudeau's Liberals.

Immediately after his Tuesday morning meeting with the Governor General, Martin launched an attack at the opposition parties for forcing a winter election.

"They have decided that forcing an election now is more important than establishing benchmarks to reduce wait times in health care," said Martin in Ottawa. "They've decided it is more important than making sure Canadians receive the full benefit of the tax cuts announced by the finance minister."

Martin gave a quick assessment of the three opposition leaders.

"Jack Layton thinks government should do everything, even if it puts at risk the nation's finances. Stephen Harper sees no role for government and would turn his back on our investments in early learning, in cities and communities and helping immigrants adapt to their new lives in Canada."

"Gilles Duceppe has only one motivation, to divide us at a time we have so many things to accomplish together."

Martin said he planned to talk about Liberal policies and ideas during the campaign.

"I'm going to very much campaign on our record and where we want to take the country," he said.

"In this election, my government will go before Canadians with a record of achievement – a record of promises kept – and with a clear and comprehensive plan to continue to achieve progress for all."

The Liberals have 133 seats, followed by the Conservatives with 98, the Bloc Québécois with 53 and the NDP with 18. There are four seats held by Independents and two are vacant.

Later, at a rally in Ottawa, Martin launched into Harper, criticizing him for not showing a lot of emotion in his response to a question about whether he loves Canada.

"This morning, I'm told that Stephen Harper had a little difficulty saying this, so let me say it: I love Canada!" he said.

He scolded Harper for not accepting that global warming is a problem. He also accused the Conservative leader of being soft on separatism, opposing the Liberal's deal for cities and being silent on a number of issues.

"I'm beginning to understand why we never hear Stephen Harper talking about the issues of our day," Martin said. "It's because he and his Conservatives are on the wrong side of every national issue."

Martin's opponents were quick to fire their first volleys.

Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe each held a news conference within an hour of the election call and took aim at the Liberals.

Harper pounded on the theme of change, saying that Canadians are fed up with 12 years of Liberal rule.

"On Jan. 23, you will finally be able to hold the Liberals accountable – accountable for stealing your money, accountable for breaking your trust and accountable for failing to deliver on your priorities," said Harper in Ottawa.

But the Conservative campaign won't focus entirely on the Liberal record, he added.

"In the coming weeks we will unveil our plan for Canada," said Harper. That plan will include cleaning up government, reducing taxes and getting tough on crime.

"We need a government that reflects the greatness of this country," he said. "Canada need a national government that will focus on the future."

NDP Leader Layton set his sights somewhat lower. He just wants more members of his party elected. But he stressed his party is a viable option.

"Friends, this election is wide open," said Layton. "This election is wide open because Canadians have a real, a positive and a progressive choice, the option to choose a real alternative to the Liberal broken promises and Conservative wrong-headedness."

"Canadians can get Parliament working again. Here's how to do that: elect more New Democrats."

Layton kicked off his campaign in Ottawa before heading to his nomination meeting in Toronto.

Bloc Québécois Leader Duceppe plans to use anger in Quebec over the sponsorship scandal to increase his party's hold on the province's federal ridings.

"Judge Gomery did not have the mandate to sanction the Liberal Party of Canada," Duceppe said in Ottawa. "The voters of Canada will have that mandate; they will be able to sanction the Liberals in the next election vote."

The BQ had 54 of the province's 75 seats, with the Liberals their only real competition.