The campaigns may be winding down for Christmas but the attacks between the Conservatives and Liberals continued to heat up over the issue of national unity on Wednesday.
An angry Prime Minister Paul Martin called on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper to apologize for suggesting that the Liberal Leader wants separatists to take hold of Quebec.
On Tuesday, Harper attacked the Liberals on national unity, saying Martin wants the Parti Quebecois to gain power in the next provincial election so Liberals can "stand up for federalism" and fight to save the country.
Martin called the remark "ridiculous," on Tuesday but came out swinging Wednesday morning in Dartmouth, N.S. with a prepared statement.
He declared that he has fought for national unity all his life, and that he has stood alongside provincial Liberals in a fight against separatists since he's been in Quebec.
"Yet yesterday, Mr. Harper, either out of anger or out of calculation, accused me of hoping for a separatist win. Well let me say to you that is not within the boundaries of reasonable discourse. As different as our views might be, I would never for a moment suggest that Stephen Harper would prefer for partisan political reasons to see a separatist victory," said Martin.
He continued: "As a Quebecer, as a life-long federalist, and as the Prime Minister of Canada, I believe that I'm entitled to the same courtesy from Mr. Harper and frankly, as a matter of basic courtesy, I'd like to hear him say it."
Martin's words coincided with a fundraising letter released by the Liberal's National Director Steve MacKinnon that highlighted a connection between the Tory and Bloc parties.
The letter urged supporters to donate to the Liberals to ensure that "a Conservative-Bloc (Quebecois) partnership does not reverse Canada's remarkable progress."
Martin continued his jabs at Harper during a later stop in Quebec City where the Tories are hoping for a breakthrough. He said the Conservative leader was unfit to govern if he wasn't ready to apologize.
"You begin to understand why Canadians are turned off by politics and anyone who wants to be prime minister ought to understand that," Martin said.
Harper: 'I can take a punch'
Harper, however, is refusing to back down from his statement.
Campaigning in Chatham, Ont. on Wednesday, Harper said he doesn't go around demanding apologies, and even boasted that he can "take a punch."
The Tory Leader then took umbrage with Martin's "repeated suggestions that the Conservative party is in bed with the separatists -- and that the Conservative party is getting its policies from the separatists.
"That is the allegation that is beyond the pale in this campaign."
The two leaders have been locked in a war of words over their national-unity credentials and who is better suited to defend the country against Quebec sovereigntists.
"This accusation I made against Mr. Martin arises because it is Mr. Martin who has talked continually about a referendum and about having a PQ government in Quebec."
He added that if that language from Martin stops, "then frankly our problem is solved."
Harper also took a jab at Martin for turning down Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe's offer of a one-on-one debate in French between the two.
"I'm prepared to take that challenge, instead," said Harper to loud cheers as he made a farm-support announcement. "I look forward to debating Mr. Duceppe in the near future."
Duceppe appeared less than eager to take on Harper's challenge -- possibly because of the positive reception that the Conservative policies have been receiving in Quebec.
"There were no challenges made by Mr. Harper, telling me to meet him anywhere in Quebec," Duceppe said.
Earlier this week, Harper outlined his platform for Quebec. He said a Tory government would allow the province to take part in international forums and would try to bring the province into the constitutional fold.
He also said he would work with Quebec and the provinces to resolve the fiscal imbalance between Ottawa and lower levels of government.
Harper's plan was well-received by Action démocratique du Québec Leader Mario Dumont and, even more notably, Liberal Quebec Premier Jean Charest.
He said today that the support of the two Quebec leaders shows that his policies are in line with those of federalists and provincial governments across the country.
"In terms of reform of the federation, they are the policies of Mr. Charest ... the policies of Mr. Dumont, who does not favour another referendum," said Harper.
Overshadowed policy announcements
Martin's comments followed his statement this morning that a Liberal government would invest in innovative ideas that lead to jobs and prosperity.
He also committed his party to strengthening university-based research and improving the business climate.
The Liberals have already announced a $2.1 billion commitment to national granting councils that fund research.
Harper announced a plan that would not force western farmers to sell their grain to the Canadian Wheat Board. That plan has critics worried that it could cripple Canada's supply management system for grain.
With files from CP
