The Conservatives plan to introduce legislation next week that will enable Canadians to receive Employment Insurance for a longer period of time -- and the change would be effective immediately, CTV News has learned.

That means unemployed Canadians would benefit from the bill -- which also includes improved job training -- even if a fall election were called.

The move seems designed to take some of the wind out of Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's sails, as he gears up for his campaign. He has sought to make EI reform a key issue, and has repeatedly slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper's handling of the economy during the recession.

Both Ignatieff and Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe appear ready to topple the government. The Tories will table an economic report card on Sept. 29. A confidence motion would take place in the following few days; if the government is defeated, an election would be called for mid-November.

NDP Leader Jack Layton could still support the government in the vote. But Layton, speaking on Power Play Tuesday, said Harper seemed committed to an election.

"We called on Mr. Harper to reach out to parties and try to make Parliament work. So far he hasn't been willing to do that," he said.

"I guess that's where things stand at the moment," Layton added.

Earlier Tuesday, Duceppe began his campaign rhetoric, telling Quebec voters there's no difference between Ignatieff and Harper.

He said both leaders have the same approach to the province: They are against giving Quebec more independent powers or addressing the possibility of a fiscal imbalance.

"Mr. Harper said, 'We recognized the nation, it's over.' Mr. Ignatieff said, 'Quebec doesn't need any more powers,' " Duceppe said.

"Mr. Ignatieff practically denies the existence of the fiscal imbalance. Mr. Harper tells us that it's finished."

According to the latest Strategic Counsel poll for CTV and The Globe and Mail, the Bloc is now at 49 per cent support in Quebec -- its highest level since the 2004 election. The Liberals have fallen to 23 per cent, and the Conservatives are at 16 per cent.

Duceppe said that a fall election appears inevitable, with Ignatieff determined to topple the government.

"Mr. Ignatieff was clear; he can't retreat," he said. "As for Mr. Harper, he is inflexible and has given no signs of openness."

Meanwhile, Ignatieff held a press conference in Waterloo, Ont., after touring the headquarters of Research in Motion Ltd., maker of the world-famous BlackBerry phone.

Ignatieff strove to distance himself from Harper, using the opportunity to lay out how the Liberals and Conservatives differ on RIM's seemingly failed efforts to bid on Nortel Networks.

Stockholm-based Ericsson has already purchased Nortel's wireless assets, but RIM co-chief Jim Balsillie has said Nortel should not be sold to foreign buyers because its technology is too valuable to Canada.

Harper has said the government will not intervene in the sale.

"This Ericsson-Nortel deal has to be reviewed," said Ignatieff. "It has to be reviewed so we can determine if there's a net benefit for Canada. And the Liberal party is not convinced there is a net benefit for Canada. So this sets us, very clearly, apart from the Conservative party.

With a report by CTV's Robert Fife in Ottawa