Canada's Dion accuses Harper of lying

STE.-LAMBERT, Quebec, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- Canadian Liberal Party leader Stephane Dion Monday accused Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper of lying about the Liberals' election proposals.

The opposition leader said Harper grossly misrepresented a number of Liberal policies, in particular Dion's carbon-tax Green Shift plan.

The plan, proposed in June, would create an ecotax on carbon while reducing personal and corporate income taxes. The tax would generate up to $15 billion a year in revenues to offset the reduction in income tax revenue, he said.

Harper called the plan "crazy" and said it would "screw" Canadians.

"Go and look at the plan yourself. Go and look at those tax cuts," The Globe and Mail quoted Dion as saying during a campaign stop in Ste.-Lambert, Quebec, near Montreal.

"We want to focus on social justice, as well as the environment. Harper wants to pit one against the other," Dion said.

Harper had no immediate comment.

Dion also denied Conservative accusations his party would raise the goods and services tax and cut the government's child-care allowance.

The national election is set for Oct. 14.