Senior officials in the Liberal government appear to be mapping a long-term strategy for the party, with a focus on the economy, the environment and global issues, according to The Globe and Mail.

The paper says Prime Minister Paul Martin is also expected to deliver a tax-cut budget in the spring of 2006, and to call an election on it.

The tax cuts are meant to help Liberals win a majority in the election, a senior official told The Globe.

The agenda will allow Martin to deliver on "global, green and the economy...where he is comfortable and Canadians are comfortable with him," the source told The Globe.

Some observers say the new agenda is an attempt to rebuff critics who have called Martin indecisive for failing to set priorities since he won a minority government in last June's election.

An article on Martin appearing in a recent issue of The Economist magazine called "Mr. Dithers and his Distracting Fiscal Cafeteria" further added fuel to the fire.

Last month's budget appeared to hint at the more narrowly focused agenda.

Finance Minister Ralph Goodale introduced tax cuts that will benefit low-income earners, $5 billion for action on climate change, and a $3.4-billion increase in foreign aid and debt relief.

Despite some criticism of the budget, Conservative Leader Stephen Harper said his party would not defeat the government because Canadians did not want to head to the polls for a second time so soon after the first national election.

Harper and his colleagues said the Liberal budget drew on Conservative demands, such as tax cuts, but that they were not bold enough.

The Conservative vote in support of the budget virtually assured the passage of the far-reaching fiscal blueprint, despite criticism from NDP and Bloc Quebecois who said they would not back the plan.