The Liberals renewed calls for civility in the House of Commons after the prime minister urged the Conservatives to maintain a respectful dialogue and abstain from childish antics in Parliament.

Speaking during a campaign-style stop in Halifax earlier Monday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said there is a lack of respect and civility in the House of Commons.

"I think that anyone who watches question period would walk away shaking their heads," Martin said Monday after signing a multimillion-dollar child-care deal with Nova Scotia.

He blamed the Conservatives for creating a negative tone by accusing the Liberals of trying to play politics with the life of Tory MPs suffering from cancer.

"There prevails today a culture in Parliament in which reputations are casually smeared, and anger and personal insult are the rhetorical devices of choice.

"We've got to change this," he said.

Martin also again asked that the Conservatives allow the budget bill to pass on Thursday, saying that many elements of the bill would otherwise die, including the Atlantic Accords.

"There's going to be plenty of time for the opposition to vote motions of non-confidence. But don't let this budget die. This budget is so important for Nova Scotia, so important for Canada," Martin said.

The vote on the budget bill will be held on Thursday. It is a vote of confidence in the government, and if it fails to pass, the government could dissolve and an election would be held.

"What guarantee do the Canadian people have that the prime minister will respect the vote in the House in the future?" Conservative Deputy Leader Peter MacKay asked during question period later Monday.

Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan responded to MacKay's question, reminding him of Martin's earlier statement.

"I hope, in spite of what I have just heard, that we are all committed on behalf of all Canadians to the return of civility and decorum in this house," she said.

"And let me, in response to the honourable member's question, make absolutely clear that prime minister will respect the vote of the outcome held Thursday."

Meanwhile, the Conservatives confirmed their plans to start broadcasting two election-style radio ads this week.

"Paul Martin says, 'Wait.' For what? More waste. More corruption," says the script for one ad, obtained by The Canadian Press.

"The Martin Liberals can no longer govern. Canada needs an election now. We've heard enough of Liberals saying, 'Wait.' "

A second ad claims, "Paul Martin will do anything to hang on to power. He eliminated parliamentary debate on Liberal corruption. He blew $4.6 billion of your money to buy off the NDP."

Tory truce possible

If the budget bill passes, Conservative House Leader Jay Hill has promised that the Tories will not try to trigger an election before Parliament breaks for the summer recess.

If the budget is passed by Parliament, "we will respect that vote," Hill said Sunday.

Hill also vowed his party would not try to obstruct any measures that come for a vote in the House before Thursday's showdown on the budget bill.

Liberal House Leader Tony Valeri is expected to reintroduce a motion Monday to set up the budget bill vote.

While Hill has promised the Conservatives will relent if the budget bill passes, he said that does not mean they are handing the Liberals a "blank cheque."

He said unforeseen circumstances -- such a startling new revelation from the Gomery inquiry into the sponsorship scandal -- could bring a new non-confidence attempt.

Jockeying for support

With the non-confidence motion looming, there is expected to be a lot of jockeying on Parliament Hill this week.

The Liberals are hoping all three of the Independents will vote with them on Thursday.

They need those three if they hope to defeat the Conservative-Bloc Quebecois voting bloc.

Independent MP Carolyn Parrish has already said she will vote with the Liberals, while Chuck Cadman is waiting for the results of a poll from his constituency.

As for David Kilgour, he has tied his vote to Ottawa's efforts on the war-ravaged African nation of Sudan.

Last week, Martin said his government will offer a two-year, $170-million aid package to Sudan, providing airlift capabilities, humanitarian aid and diplomatic support.

And, the PM said as many as 100 military personnel will also be dispatched to train local forces.

However, Kilgour called the aid package for Darfur "a token commitment" and not enough to win his support for the minority Liberal government.

'Pairing' deal

A deal may have been worked out for Thursday's vote to compensate for a Tory MP who will be away because of illness.

It is all part of a process referred to as "pairing."

It means that if an MP misses a vote because of illness, another MP who is attending will agree not to vote as well.

NDP MP Ed Broadbent has volunteered not to vote if Conservative MP Darrel Stinson can't make it in.

"We decided that we would not take advantage of someone whose condition is as serious as cancer, and needs a cancer operation a day before a major vote," Broadbent told CTV's Canada AM on Monday.

"So the offer was made to pair."

The Liberals have also offered to pair Natural Resources Minister John Efford, who is sick with diabetes.

With files from The Canadian Press