Political party leaders have been hitting the campaign trail since the spring election was triggered last week.

Voters head to the polls May 2 following last week’s defeat of the Conservative government in Ottawa.

On Tuesday, New Democrat Leader Jack Layton he would cap credit card interest rates at 5% plus prime. He also said the Harper government has failed to stand up for consumers and small business by not regulating interest rates and credit card fees.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff unveiled a plan Tuesday to give students up to $1,500 a year for post-secondary education. News reports say the measure would cost $1 billion per year, and would be funded by the cancellation of planned corporate tax cuts.

Ignatieff told reporters a Liberal government could have the plan up and running by 2012.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper announced that a re-elected Conservative government would establish a one-year EI tax break for small businesses to hire new employees, helping to create new jobs and complete Canada’s economic recovery.

“As Canada emerges from a world-wide recession, it is essential that we do everything in our power to complete our economic recovery and ensure that more jobs are available to Canadians.”

The election was triggered last week when all three of the opposition parties voted in favour of a Liberal non-confidence motion focusing on a committee report that the Conservatives had acted in contempt of Parliament.

mweber@reddeerexpress.com