by Xinhua writer Zhao Qing

    OTTAWA, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- Canada's Conservative government on Monday promised to act swiftly and deeply to stave off the ongoing economic disaster, as it struggles for opposition and public support ahead of a vital budget vote later this week.

    SWIFT, DEEP ACTION ON ECONOMY

    In a throne speech that outlined its policy agenda for the new session of the Parliament on Monday, the government focused on the federal budget to be released on Tuesday, promising to present a six-point economic stimulus plan and "spend what is necessary" to rescue Canada's sagging economy.

    The plan includes stimulating the economy through public and private investment, with immediate cash for infrastructure, as well as offering help for the poor, the unemployed, aboriginals and struggling industries such as the auto sector and forestry, Governor General Michaelle Jean said as she read out the throne speech presented by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

    In the speech, Harper also held out to the oppositions for concerted efforts and their support.

    "In these uncertain times, when the world is threatened by a struggling economy, it is imperative that we work together, that we stand beside one another and that we strive for greater solidarity," reads the speech, which also touches on the government's other priorities.

    EXTENSIVE BUDGET AIMED TO PLEASE ALL

    Although Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is scheduled to release the budget on Tuesday, important details have been intentionally leaked by government officials in the past few days to seek support and better prepare it for the vote in the Parliament.

    An anonymous official warned last week the budget would result in a deficit of 64 billion Canadian dollars (51 billion U.S. dollars), but promised a plan to come out of the red within five years. Official opposition Liberal Party leader Michaelle Ignatieff accused the government's leaking of the message as a deliberate attempt "to get the bad news out of the way."

    Officials also have announced big spendings on infrastructure, social housing, green technology and job training -- all that has been demanded by the oppositions.

    Financial officials said the budget is based on extensive consultations with the provincial premiers and opposition leaders, along with submissions from various national groups and organizations.

    Analysts say the Liberal Party will find it hard to reject the budget as it contains "enough for everybody." 

    LIBERALS TO STUDY BUDGET BEFORE VOTE DECISION

    Ignatieff reiterated on Monday that he will read the budget details first, and discuss it with party caucus members before deciding on whether to support it or not.

    He will announce his party's decision on Wednesday, as he told reporters after listening to the throne speech.

    But Ignatieff said the throne speech showed that the government is listening to some of his concerns, and noted that the speech talked about "reaching across the divide and finding non-partisan solutions," as compared with the "partisan and divisive" language of the government's previous throne speech last autumn.

    Senior Liberal insiders have said Ignatieff's first sense would be to support the budget, as he struggles to rebuild a party burdened by lack of funding and internal strife.

    Although the Liberals have voiced concern that the budget would cause the first deficit in 10 years and include a permanent tax cut for the middle class that they say is helpless for the economy, analysts say these problems are not big enough to force Ignatieff to reject the budget.

    The throne speech opened the 40th session of the Parliament after it was suspended for almost two months. Prime Minister Harper requested the suspension on Dec. 4 to avoid a non-confidence motion which would have toppled his government.

    At that time, the Liberal Party and the New Democratic Party had agreed to replace the government with a governing coalition, backed by the Bloc Quebecois, after the Conservatives released a fiscal update which withdrew public funding for the federal parties and failed to include details of an economic stimulus package.