OTTAWA - Get ready for a May election.
The Harper government is poised to fall within days, with all three opposition parties planning to vote against the federal budget.
Defeat of the government will likely occur this week, either over the budget or a non-confidence motion planned by the Liberals on Friday.
That would topple the minority Conservatives and send voters to the polls in early May.
The government's fate was all but sealed by NDP Leader Jack Layton, who joined the Liberals and Bloc Quebecois on Tuesday in announcing his party's intention to vote against the budget.
Layton said Prime Minister Stephen Harper "had an opportunity to address the needs of hard-working, middle-class Canadians and families and he missed that opportunity."
Layton said the budget falls far short of the four conditions he'd laid down for NDP support: elimination of the federal sales tax on home heating fuel; measures to greatly increase the number of doctors; a big boost in pensions for poor seniors; and restoration of the home eco-energy retrofit program.
He said the government could yet survive by agreeing to amend the budget to respond to NDP concerns, but added that scenario is "difficult to imagine."
Highlights of the 2011-12 federal budget:
- Total spending of $278.7 billion (includes $33 billion in debt payments), up one per cent from 2010-11.
- Total debt of $586 billion, up $29.6 billion from 2010-11.
- Projected deficit of $29.6 billion, with plans to balance the budget by 2015-16.
- $400 million to extend the ecoENERGY Retrofit-Homes program for one year. The program offers rebates to help make homes more energy efficient.
- A new top-up benefit of up to $600 for single, low-income seniors and up to $840 for couples through the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Expected to cost more than $300 million.
- A new Family Caregiver Tax Credit which would save about $300 a year for people caring for sick or disabled relatives.
- A new 15 per cent Children's Arts Tax Credit for children's arts, culture, recreation and developmental activities which would save parents about $75 a year per child.
- A new initiative to attract health-care workers to rural and remote communities by forgiving up to $40,000 in student loans for doctors and $20,000 for nurses.
- A temporary Hiring Credit for Small Business of up to $1,000 against the increase in 2011 EI premiums to encourage hiring.
- Legislation to make the $2-billion Gas Tax Fund permanent to provide predictable infrastructure funding for municipalities.
