Mayors of Canada's two biggest cities have teamed up with a group of activists to warn the Conservatives against triggering an election before the budget has passed.

Put People Before Politics, a coalition of social and labour activists, said that if the budget dies, then so will programs that would help the homeless, improve urban infrastructure and public transit, and increase affordable child-care spaces.

Toronto Mayor David Miller said the federal budget is important to all Canadians and that he won't stay quiet if it should be struck down.

"If there is an early election, I for one will certainly be speaking out about what's been lost," said Miller.

"If it goes down, will I be out there? I'll be all over it."

Vancouver Mayor Larry Campbell pleaded with the Official Opposition to "Carefully consider how important this budget is."

"To bring this government down on this budget is not a wise thing for any party to do," said Campbell.

Nothing to fear

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper responded by accusing the mayors of political partisanship. He also assured Canada's cities that they have nothing to fear if the budget dies with the fall of the Liberal government.

"To suggest that all of the progress of municipalities towards achieving a new deal 'could be for nothing' simply because the current deeply flawed federal budget is defeated is an untrue and frankly partisan statement," Harper stated in a letter.

"I have already made clear and unequivocal commitments to honour all federal-provincial-municipal agreements reached on infrastructure."

Harper initially supported the budget when it was announced by Finance Minister Ralph Goodale in February.

But his position changed when Prime Minister Paul Martin promised $4.6 billion in a re-vamped budget will go to social programs and the environment in order to get the support of NDP Leader Jack Layton. Harper swore then to defeat the "NDP budget," accusing the prime minister of striking a "deal with the devil."

The mayors said the deal, however, gives the cities the cash infusion they so desperately need, and that its fall would impact on their abilities to improve services.

Canadians spent millions on an election less than a year ago, Campbell pointed out, and it would be a waste to send them to the polls again so soon.

"I'd give my arm for $200 million to put into housing, to put into child care, to help the people who really need it," said Campbell.

"Do Canadians really want to spend another $200 million on the chance of another minority government? I don't think so."

Harper and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe have maintained that the Liberals, tarnished by corruption allegations levelled at them from the sponsorship inquiry, have lost the moral authority to govern.

Miller said he's "appalled by" evidence he's heard from the inquiry, but that he also supports Martin's call to wait for Justice Gomery's report into the scandal in December before calling an election.

"It would be even more appalling to not pass the programs that are before Parliament that have a direct impact on people's lives," said Miller.

With a report from The Canadian Press