MONTREAL - NDP Leader Jack Layton says it would be a waste of time if the Conservative government were to start a fresh session of Parliament with a speech from the throne.
Layton wants Prime Minister Stephen Harper to allow Parliament to resume Sept. 17 as originally planned.
"I am calling on the prime minister at this point to recognize that there's work that needs to be done,'' he told reporters.
There are indications the Conservative government is considering starting a fresh session of Parliament with a speech from the throne.
But Layton said MPs should get back to their desks to work on legislation dealing with climate change.
"Students are coming back to school, people are coming back after the summer holidays,'' Layton said.
"How come members of Parliament can't get back to work on important issues like Bill 30 on the environment or any number of other important pieces of legislation which, if there's a prerogation, will simply die and all the work that was put into them will die ... it'll be a waste.''
He made the comments after wrapping up a two-day caucus retreat with New Democrat MPs who met to discuss their priorities for the fall.
"The war in Afghanistan is a key preoccupation of Canadians today and our stand is the only clear stand among political parties,'' Layton said.
Layton also expressed concern about "the hollowing out of Canada'' in light of the acquisition of Stelco by U.S. Steel, an American firm.
The NDP leader blamed the Harper government and the previous Liberal government which he said "have failed to put in place an economic strategy for this country and for its key industrial sectors.''
"In that vacuum ... we've seen companies floundering, we've seen bidding wars for companies ... and the government simply wash its hands of our economic future.''
Layton said the Investment Canada Act says there needs to be a net benefit to Canada when it comes to takeovers.
"And yet we've seen the Liberals and now the Conservatives approved absolutely every single takeover that has been proposed in the 13 past years.''
