[Jack Layton] kicked off the war of words in Halifax. He said Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will be "getting into bed" with Quebec separatists if he joins the Bloc Quebecois to force an election.

"Before throwing accusations at the Conservative party, Jack Layton should look in the mirror, and explain his own party's inconsistency in dealing with the separatists," a Tory release said. It cited NDP ties to Buzz Hargrove and the Canadian Auto Workers union, adding that the Quebec wing of the union endorsed the Bloc in the last election.

ANDREW VAUGHAN CP Visiting Halifax, federal NDP Leader Jack Layton launched a war of words yesterday with Conservatives, whom he said were intent on "getting into bed" with the separatist Bloc Quebecois to bring down the minority Liberal government. He addressed Dalhousie law students and attended a memorial for thousands of Nova Scotians hurt and 27 who died of work-related accidents or illness in 2004.