Political Posturing Intensifies Between Conservatives, Liberals On 2nd Day Of Campaign

September 9, 2008 12:56 p.m. EST

Montreal, Quebec (AHN) - On the second day of the political campaign, the two major political parties intensified their posturing in a bid to convince Canadian voters they deserve their ballot on Oct. 14.

In Quebec, Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion called Prime Minister Stephen Harper a liar over a Conservative claim that the Liberals will increase the GST and abolish the $1,200 per child care allowance introduced by the Harper government.

"I call on Stephen Harper to debate (the carbon tax) seriously, to stop to lie to Canadians, to not try to win an election by lying, and to be honest for once," Dion told reporters while on a campaign stop in Montreal.

The prime minister, while in Winnipeg Tuesday, promised to reduce diesel and jet fuel tax by 50 percent as the Conservative Party's way of assisting farmers and truckers reeling from the high fuel cost. He said the federal excise tax on diesel would be cut to $0.02 for every liter from $0.04 within the next four years.

In a statement, Harper said, "At a time when Canadians are concerned about affordability and energy prices are rising, we should be doing what we can to lower prices."

Meanwhile, Dion is tapping technology to win the battle by launching the "This is Dion" campaign website, which seeks to portray him as a sportsman, passionate person and family man in an effort to reverse the Conservatives' characterization of the Liberal leader as less manly, undecisive, aloof and lacking leadership traits.

Harper's adverts, which had been focusing on his being a father, had been running for several weeks. To even it up, the Liberals launched Dion's portal.

Gordon Ashworth, Liberal campaign director, explained to Globe and Mail, "The new website will show another side of the Liberal leader. It shows how inextricably linked his policies are with his personal values of fairness, justice and love for Canada."