NDP a viable alternative to Liberals and Tories: Layton

NDP Leader Jack Layton hopes to convince voters that his party has become a force for getting things done in Parliament and encourage them to elect more New Democrats on Jan. 23.

On the first day of the federal election campaign Tuesday, Layton said voters don't have to be "imprisoned by the old dynamics forever."

NDP Leader Jack Layton and his wife Olivia Chow on the campaign bus, Ottawa, Tuesday, Nov. 29. (CP Photo/Andrew Vaughan)

"What I'm offering to Canadians is that they actually have a wide open choice," he said while kicking off his campaign in Ottawa.

"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."

"You don't have to choose, on the one hand, a party that you really don't respect because they haven't delivered and they have this culture of entitlement. And then there's the other party whose ideas you don't agree with," added Layton.

The NDP believes it lost seats in the 2004 election because of so-called strategic voting. Left-leaning voters who would have supported New Democrats went to the Liberals at the last minute as a way of blocking a Conservative victory.

Layton touted his caucus's accomplishments earlier this year, for getting the Liberals to change the spring budget and pressing the government to spend billions on health care and social programs. "We made Parliament work for people," he said.

As for the Liberals, he said, they "should be judged on what they've done, not another list of promises."

Later in the day, Layton challenged Prime Minister Paul Martin.

"Mr. Martin says he wants to run on the Liberal record; I say bring it on."

The NDP leader blamed the Liberals for the government's fall, saying Martin stubbornly refused to co-operate.

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

Layton said he'll continue to push to stop privatization in health care and put forward a national plan for clean air and water. He also promised action to fight corruption in government.

But in what appeared to be a break from traditional NDP policies, he vowed to crack down hard on gang violence and strengthen Canada's military.

Layton is scheduled to continue his campaign in Toronto on Tuesday night. Later in the week, Layton heads to Sault Ste. Marie and Hamilton where the NDP won seats in the last election.

The NDP had 18 seats when Parliament was dissolved.