The stage is set

It may be that policy will be completely ignored the rest of this campaign now that the Libs and the Cons are locked into hysterical accusation mode. But just in case that doesn't happen, the NDP released its full platform today:

Layton, if he is influential in a minority Parliament, is vowing to push for legislation to protect public health care, improve government ethical standards, reduce pollution, set child-care standards, guard workers’ pensions, and protect Canadians with tougher anti-crime measures.

"It's affordable, it's responsible, it fits inside a balanced budget each and every year," Layton told supporters at a rally here.

In addition to previously announced vows to boost spending on child care, health care and seniors, Layton is proposing a $250-million, five-year national cancer strategy, $400 million to fight the Mountain Pine Beetle in Western Canada, a new $50 million fund to compensate Chinese-Canadians hurt by the racist head tax of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and $100 million for a “victims of terror” fund."...

More than half the surplus will be used to pay down the employment insurance fund debt, and to a national infrastructure fund and four (sic) co-operative housing.

I'll take a closer look at some of the individual planks as the campaign continues. For now, the platform (which is available online) reflects a solid balance between current areas of need while keeping spending at a sustainable level. It may have been all the better to see the platform sooner - but the NDP's plan appears to have been worth the wait.

(Edit: Posted too soon; modified first paragraph.)