New Democrat Leader Jack Layton defended his party's economic policies on Wednesday amid rising poll numbers that have increased scrutiny of the finer details of his election platform.
New polls show the New Democrats in second place nationally and first in Quebec -- with some projecting the NDP could even end up in government if the numbers hold true.
That prompted Douglas Porter, deputy chief economist with BMO Nesbitt Burns, to warn investors Tuesday to "hang onto their hats" if the polling proves even "remotely true."
Other economists also reported a sense of nervousness among their investors and there have been questions about how the NDP would pay for some of their promises, particularly on health care.
And Prime Minister Stephen Harper on Wednesday said the NDP's economic policies are designed for an opposition party, not a government.
But Layton, speaking Wednesday at the Indian Metis friendship centre in Winnipeg North, said one needs only look to the provinces for evidence of the NDP's skills on the economy.
"We would be providing very stable and predictable conditions for business," Layton said.
"And all you have to do is take a look at the 10 balanced budgets in a row here in Manitoba and the surplus budget in Nova Scotia to see the excellent examples of what a New Democrat administration would look like."
Layton also faced tough questions from reporters about a Quebec candidate who lives in Ottawa but is currently on vacation in Las Vegas, as well as in relation to his musings this week about reopening the Constitution to bring Quebec into the fold.
Layton said the candidate's vacation was booked long before the election, and suggested her absence wasn't a major problem. He also blamed the lack of fixed election dates for the situation, saying candidates never know when an election will occur and it's not their fault if they have a vacation planned before the writ is dropped.
He also said his first goal for Quebec is to tighten the province's bonds with the rest of Canada -- firstly by ousting Harper from office.
From Winnipeg, Layton heads to Edmonton where he hopes to not only see his lone Alberta MP Linda Duncan re-elected, but maybe take two more seats in the province's most left-leaning city.
Barry McLoughlin, president and co-founder of Ottawa-based McLoughlin Media, said the turning point for Layton in this election was the televised debates.
"He was in his element, he looked strong, he clearly won the English debate and absolutely surprised and won the French debate," he told CTV's Power Play.
However, he said there are still a few days for those saying they will vote NDP to change their mind.
"My recommendation to Jack Layton is don't mention Prime Minister Jack Layton," McLoughlin said, adding that it may cause some voters to hesitate because of the uncertainty of what an NDP government would look like.
With files from The Canadian Press
