The Liberals have launched a series of new Tory-style attack ads that call Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament a "holiday gift to himself."
The print and radio ads claim Harper's decision to shut down the government was made so that he could avoid questioning on tough issues like torture in Afghanistan and unemployment.
The surprise move to extend the holiday break until after the Olympics came on Dec. 30 -- prompting outrage from the opposition parties and people across the country.
"While Canadians were busy getting ready for New Year's Eve, Stephen Harper was busy too," one of the English radio ads says.
"He was busy shutting down Parliament. He did it in the middle of the holidays because he thought Canadians wouldn't notice. It was his holiday gift to himself. He doesn't want to have to answer questions about torture cover-ups, climate change, unemployment. Stephen Harper did this secretly because he has something to hide."
The second English radio ad suggests the decision to prorogue Parliament is akin to a cover-up on the torture issue.
"When questions arose about what he and his government knew about torture in Afghanistan, Stephen Harper shut down Parliament. Why doesn't he want to face Parliament? What is he covering up? What does Stephen Harper know that he doesn't want other Canadians to know?"
The print ads show a picture of Parliament Hill, with a sign superimposed in front of the building that reads: "CLOSED out of self-interest," with Harper's signature affixed.
A recent poll showed that a majority of Canadians disapproved of the decision to prorogue Parliament. As well, the decision has been the subject of a Facebook group now totaling more than 135,000 people who oppose the move.
Harper, however, says the move was necessary in order to recalibrate the government and prepare the budget.
CTV's Ottawa Bureau Chief Robert Fife said that explanation doesn't seem to be gaining much traction with Canadians.
"Governments are always doing budgets while Parliament is sitting so it's a pretty weak excuse and for the first time in a long time the Liberals seem to have some real energy here to go after the government," Fife told CTV's Canada AM.
However, Fife said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff's strategy has been somewhat confusing. On Monday, for example, he was scheduled to speak with university students but had no plans to meet with working Canadians.
Ignatieff also seems to be missing out on an opportunity to get his message out on the airwaves, declining major television interview opportunities.
"I think it's a smart move to do these ads but I don't understand why they're not letting him reach as large an audience as he possibly can," Fife said.
Harper, by comparison, has been making numerous television appearances to defend his decision.
"He's out there trying to convince people that he's working, he's on top of this issue, he's not just on a holiday," Fife said.
