Opposition rejects Conservative budget

The Toronto Star:

Ottawa — Stephen Harper’s minority Conservative government is in danger of being toppled after NDP Leader Jack Layton announced his party will not support Tuesday’s budget.

“The NDP will not be supporting the budget in its current form,” Layton said, suggesting his party would be open to amendments.

But he said it is “difficult” to imagine there won’t be an election, saying that the Conservatives appear to have made up their mind on the budget.

Layton, who met with Harper to discuss the budget several weeks ago, said that the budget fell far short of his party’s demands to assist working families.

“He missed that opportunity. He just doesn’t get it,” he said.

Layton’s decision sets up the likely fall of the government later this week, perhaps Thursday. That would set in motion an election and send voters to the polls in early May.

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