Layton open to minority deal with any party

Canadian Press
June 18, 2004 5:07 PM ET

REGINA — New Democrats would be willing to work with any party including Conservatives if there is a minority government, Jack Layton said Friday.

"I have said we would work in any minority parliament of any kind, led by New Democrats or anyone else, for the interests of Canadians," Layton said as he campaigned in Regina.

In the past, the NDP leader has said he would demand a national vote on a system of proportional representation in exchange for supporting a minority government. He has since declined to say what other demands he would make.

Again Friday, Layton wouldn't say what he would trade away from the NDP platform, which has little in common with Conservative promises.

"We're not going to have those kind of negotiations here," Layton said.

"They (the Conservatives) would be coming to us if my most optimistic scenarios ... begin to unfold."

The new willingness to work with any party may not sit well with some New Democrats.

Pat Martin, the NDP candidate in Winnipeg, said earlier this week he can't imagine working with Conservatives.

"I'd rather not breathe the same air as Tories, never mind support them in a government," Martin said.

As polls continued to show Conservatives and Liberals in a virtual tie for the lead in the election campaign and the NDP in third place, Layton faced increasing questions about his promise to make a referendum on proportional representation a condition of his support for a minority government.

Proportional representation helps small parties by dividing seats according to the total vote won by each party.