Canada

Canadians eager to oust Harper, May says

Green party Leader Elizabeth May said she welcomes an election, adding that the policies of Prime Minister Stephen Harper are not in synch with Canadians.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May said she welcomes an election,adding that the policies ofPrime Minister Stephen Harper are not in synch with Canadians.

"This may be naive, but I have faith in democracy," May told a news conference on Parliament Hill.

The Conservative minority government will lay out its new priorities on Tuesday as it unveils its speech from the throne, a speech that some say could trigger an election.

"Most Canadians do not like Mr. Harper's policies," May said."Most Canadians are desperate for leadership that really speaks to issues and is respectful about them. Most Canadians want a politician who keeps his word or her word. They don't see that in the Harper government."

May said she's confident that voters "will find a way to ensure that Mr. Harper moves out of 24 Sussex Drive."

May made the comments Monday after releasing her party's 160-page Vision Green.

The six-part policy document calls for a "polluter pays" carbon tax to curb use of fossil fuels. It also supports regulated emission cuts and a range of social measures to ease poverty, boost preventive health care, and improve access to early learning and higher education.

May told CBC News that the party has always been concerned about other issues, and that you can't simply focus on one issue to have a healthy society.

"I think as Canadians read our policies, they understand we're about a lot more than the environment."

May said Canadian priorities are much more than breathable air and drinkable water.

"Everyone will agree that without those, you don't have any kind of life at all, but we also want education for our kids, we also want a healthy society, we want to address the cancer epidemic, which no other party even talks about, that our health-care system has to be more about taking care of disease, but preventing disease in the first place."

With files from the Canadian Press