Prime Minister Stephen Harper used the English-language leaders' debate to ask Canadians for a majority government.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff suggested earning it first.

"You shut down Parliament twice, you were twice ruled against by the speaker and you were found in contempt," Ignatieff said during the live telecast Tuesday night. "Now you are walking around trying to claim the right to a majority. Majorities are something you earn. You haven't done that."

Harper, who was under attack by all three party leaders from the get go, said his record in office should speak for itself.

He put forth the success of the federal stimulus program as an example.

"Canada had the largest and most well executed stimulus plan which is why we have had superior job creation in this country," he said.

New Democratic Party Leader Jack Layton said Harper can't be trusted with a majority. He said Harper damaged Canada's reputation internationally by being found in contempt of Parliament.

"The world is asking what happened to Canada," he said. "Why was our government cited for contempt? Why is it so secretive? Why is it the most closed administration we have seen in some time?"

All four leaders called on Auditor General's Sheila Fraser to release her report into the G8 Legacy Infrastructure Fund.

An excerpt of the report, which suggested the Conservatives were less than forthcoming with Parliament in gaining approval for the $50-million fund, was leaked Monday.

Fraser has said the report cannot be released unless Parliament is sitting.

"I'd be happy to have the real report," Harper said in response to his opponents during the debate.

"Then bring it out," Ignatieff replied. "What are you waiting for?"

Harper and Ignatieff locked horns again on the issue of taxation.

"If you peg corporate tax at 18 per cent you can save $6 billion," Ignatieff said. "You can use that to invest in education without raising taxes for ordinary Canadians."

Harper in turn, accused the Liberal leader of wanting to raise taxes.

"If you raise taxes you will hurt jobs and hurt the economy and that's the truth," Harper replied. "We don't want to do that."

Layton said Ignatieff shouldn't be campaigning against corporate tax cuts rolled out by the Conservatives in 2009 seeing as the Liberals voted for them.

It was one of several times during the debate that Layton chose to attack Ignatieff over Harper.

"You are Mr. Harper's best friend and here you are offering yourself as an alternative," he said.

Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe started off the debate with an attack on Harper during a six minute one-on-one segment.

"I would like to congratulate Mr. Harper for answering a question from a citizen for the first time this campaign," he said in response to a viewer question.