The governing Conservatives maintain they don't want an election and won't provoke one, but they said Monday that Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff has forced them to begin preparing for an election he seems determined to trigger.
The Conservatives launched a series of six television attack ads Monday that take aim at Ignatieff and his so-called "coalition partners," the Bloc Quebecois and NDP.
Ignatieff has left them with no choice but to respond, according to a statement posted on the Conservative Party of Canada website.
"Ignatieff has just begun a national campaign style tour, targeting seats he believes can be won by the Liberals. He's even revealed his election 'ballot question,'" said the statement.
"Canadians should be in no doubt: the opportunist Ignatieff has decided that an election this spring is his best hope of becoming prime minister."
The TV ads launched Monday across the country are intended to contrast the record of Prime Minister Stephen Harper with that of Ignatieff, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe.
