Conservative Leader Stephen Harper returned to one of the main themes of his election campaign on Saturday, blasting the Liberal party for corruption, as the leaders criss-cross the country in a final push to sway the undecided.

Harper accused his Liberal counterpart Paul Martin of evading crucial questions.

"He has not provided Canadians a single compelling reason why his government should be re-elected and he has utterly failed to answer three important questions," Harper said at a campaign stop in a Toronto-area riding.

"Mr. Martin, where is the missing money? Mr. Martin, why do the scandals such as income trusts keep happening? Mr. Martin, how after two referendum defeats could you let separation get back onto the national agenda?" Harper asked.

"He's dodged these questions because the answers to these questions all point to the corruption of the Liberal party."

Though Harper was campaigning in vote-rich Ontario, he also turned his attention on Quebec, where he hopes to capitalize on gains in the opinion polls.

The Conservative leader appealed to Quebecers to make his party their federalist choice.

"It's also time for a new government that will demonstrate to Quebecers and to all Canadians for that matter that federalism does not equal corruption, that Canada represents our hopes and dreams, and our real values in this country," he said.

To vote for the Bloc Quebecois, Harper said in French, is to vote for the status quo.

"To vote Conservative is to put the Liberals out, to kick them out and finally change the government."

Meanwhile, Harper has cut off news conferences with the national media, The Canadian Press reported.

His spokeswoman Carolyn Stewart Olsen, told reporters the Tory leader no longer has time for formal question-and-answer periods after he brushed aside questions from reporters.

"We're moving fast today," she said.

One reporter was grabbed by Conservative security as she tried to ask a question of John Carmichael, the Tory candidate for Toronto's Don Valley West riding, CP reported.

"Don't you hold me, is that clear?" Lina Dib yelled.

"I'm sorry," the young man said apologetically, backing away. A spokesman for Harper later apologized to Dib.

Harper heads to British Columbia on Sunday before returning to the Conservative heartland and his riding in Alberta.

Martin says moderate Tory party 'dead as disco'

Meanwhile, Martin responded with his own assault Saturday, scorning Harper for avoiding the press.

"Stephen Harper says he believes in open and accountable government. But now, he'll no longer make himself available to the press," Martin told a crowd jammed into the offices of London-Fanshawe Liberal candidate Glen Pearson.

He said the move echoes Tory efforts to hide socially conservative candidates like those who sealed the Conservative defeat in 2004.

"Stephen Harper says he wants members of Parliament to play a greater role in Parliament. He says he wants them to have a greater say, a greater voice. All the time, that is, except during an election campaign," Martin said.

"For the past month, Mr. Harper has had to keep many of his Conservative members in hiding. The reason is very clear. He doesn't want his Conservative candidates to tell Canadians what they stand for. He doesn't want them to say what they believe. He doesn't want them to say what they'd be working for if Stephen Harper ever formed a government."

In comments that echoed the 2004 election campaign, Martin charged that the Conservative party of old, known for moderate policies and progressive leaders is as "dead as disco."

"They used to call them the Tories," Martin said.

"But that party -- the party of Bob Stanfield, the party of Joe Clark, the party of mainstream and moderate leaders, the party that was proud to call itself progressive, is no more -- it's as dead as disco."

Martin will spend much of Saturday hitting the hustings in Southern Ontario, before he flies to Manitoba this evening.

Layton courts voters in British Columbia

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Jack Layton is courting voters in battleground British Columbia, where he hopes to shore up support in key ridings.

Pre-empting questions from critics who question why Layton isn't in Ontario in the final leg of the election race, he asserted B.C. voters will play a vital role in the final outcome.

"Ontario is where I'm from and I'm very proud of my province. It's a vital part of this country, I think we would all agree, and that is why I'm headed back there this evening," Layton said.

"But every province in this country is important and I happen to believe that British Columbia is especially important because I believe that British Columbians are the Canadians who are going to have the final say on what Parliament looks like on Tuesday morning."

Following his event in Vancouver, Layton was to board a plane and embark on a "tarmac tour'' of Saskatchewan and Ontario.

With a majority government hanging in the balance and a vote just two days away, the party leaders are making a sprint for the finish line.

Bloc Leader Gilles Duceppe has several rallies scheduled for Saturday and Green Party Leader Jim Harris is hitting the hustings in British Columbia.