Jack Layton’s response to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff’s support of Harper budget

What we saw yesterday is what happens when a government cobbles together a budget it doesn't believe in.

Using Mr. Ignatieff’s own litmus tests:

- this budget fails to protect the vulnerable

- it fails to safeguard the jobs of today

- and it fails to create the jobs of tomorrow

This budget provides 60 dollars in corporate tax cuts for every dollar it provides to unemployed workers.

Not one single additional unemployed worker was made eligible for EI.

Mr. Harper's Infrastructure program is contingent on co-payments by other levels of government.

Governments that are broke. Which means Harper’s plan won't work.

This budget attacks pay equity for women.

It fails to build desperately needed social housing for low-income Canadians, or to create childcare spaces for working families.

It makes post-secondary education less accessible for our best and brightest.

Nevertheless, Stephen Harper is going to remain in office, because Michael Ignatieff has decided to keep him there.

This is the first really important public decision Mr. Ignatieff has made in his life.

And what he has decided to do is stick with Mr. Dion's unfortunate voting policy with regard to Mr. Harper.

When the Liberals vote for Mr. Harper, with or without the figleaf of an amendment, they will be casting their forty-fifth straight vote in to keep Stephen Harper in office.

You can't do that, and pretend to be the alternative to Mr. Harper.

So, to the hundreds of thousands of Canadians who voted for Mr. Ignatieff’s party to replace Mr. Harper I say this: What you and I learned today is that you can't rely on Mr. Ignatieff to oppose Mr. Harper.

If you oppose Mr. Harper and you want to replace him, I urge you to support the New Democrats -- now and in the next election.

You can count on us to be with you and for you, between elections as well as during them, each and every day.

Thank you.