OTTAWA — Stephen Harper's finance minister, who has flown under the radar during the federal election campaign, hit the hustings today to sell the Conservative vision for the Canadian economy.
The latest public opinion polls suggest the Tories are in a fierce battle with the Liberals, who appear to be gaining momentum as the federal election looms.
Joe Oliver held an event in Toronto to target Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau's fiscal plan, which includes a pledge to run deficits of up to $10-billion a year for three years to put money into infrastructure projects.
Oliver told a small business the economy remains the number one priority for the Conservatives, especially with the instability in the global markets.
Harper is not campaigning today.
Trudeau is in Iqaluit, where he announced a Liberal government will funnel $40 million over four years in to the government's Nutrition North program designed to bring health food to isolated communities.
The Liberal leader said he will ensure the program, often criticized for operational problems, will be more effective and transparent.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will return to British Columbia on Saturday, where he is set to attend events in Victoria and Duncan.
Mulcair's campaign team went on the attack Saturday against both the Conservatives and the Liberals on climate change.
The New Democrats put out a news release accusing Trudeau of failing to say what emission reduction targets a Liberal government would bring in.
Trudeau told the CBC on Saturday that a Liberal government would set targets in consultation with the provinces.
"What we need is not ambitious political targets, what we need is an ambitious plan to reduce our emissions in the country," Trudeau told the CBC radio show "The House."
