Ignatieff says he'll get to Alta., Sask.
Twelve days into the election campaign, Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has yet to visit Alberta or Saskatchewan — but he says it's going to happen.
Speaking in Quebec on Wednesday, Ignatieff fielded questions from reporters asking if he has written off the two Conservative strongholds or is worried about how his environmental policies will be received.
"We'll be touring in Alberta and Saskatchewan. We've got plans to have campaign events in both provinces. I'm extremely optimistic," Ignatieff said.
In each of the two provinces, there's only one seat that isn't held by the Conservatives.
In Alberta, it's the Edmonton Strathcona riding held by New Democrat Linda Duncan while in Saskatchewan, Ralph Goodale's Wascana seat is the only patch of Liberal red in a sea of Tory blue.
NDP leader Jack Layton and Conservative leader Stephen Harper hit both provinces early in the campaign, but Ignatieff has yet to make an appearance in either. He said that will change.
"I want to be the prime minister that has representation in every province and territory in the province," Ignatieff said.
Ignatieff also tried to shoot down the suggestion Liberal climate change policies were likely to get a rough reception in the west.
"Let's get this cliche out of our head ... that Western Canadians aren't concerned about the environment, aren't concerned about getting greenhouse gases down," he said.
This week, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he had questions about the Liberals' "cap-and-trade" proposal to reduce greenhouse gases. With cap-and-trade, emission caps are set and companies that exceed them must buy credits from other companies that are under their caps.
Wall said he was concerned that the money emitters might pay under such a system would not stay in Saskatchewan. The Liberals said later it would.
Ignatieff said he would sit down with Western Canadian leaders to discuss what will come next on climate change, in contrast with the Conservatives, who haven't moved ahead with a plan, he said.
"This cap-and-trade stuff, it's the Western provinces that have taken the lead and they're waiting for federal leadership," he said.
