Canadian government 'on probation'

OTTAWA, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Canadian Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said Wednesday he would support the minority Conservative budget, but only with accountability amendments.

A day after the Conservatives published the recession-responding budget that carries a 5-year deficit, Ignatieff said his party was prepared to "swallow hard" on the package he ideologically opposes. But the support came with strings.

"We are putting this government on probation," he said at an Ottawa news conference. "This budget does not include one word about accountability."

Ignatieff said the amendment to be put forth in Parliament would require the Conservatives to show evidence in March, June and December that money allocated was "going out the door" and being put to use. Each report will place the Conservatives in a non-confidence position in which they could be toppled by a coalition, or another federal election.

"These measures are only in the budget because the opposition parties did their job," Ignatieff said. "This is a budget that (meets) the needs of today. We'll see if it meets the needs of tomorrow."

There was no immediate response from the Conservatives.

Both the socialist New Democratic Party and separatist Bloc Quebecois opposition parties said they will vote against the budget.