Leader of Canada's Liberal Party Michael Ignatieff said Thursday he will take one more day to review the government's budget progress report before deciding on whether to try to force an election.

Ignatieff made the remarks shortly after Prime Minister Stephen Harper delivered the report.

In exchange for supporting the Conservative budget in January, the Liberals demanded quarterly reports on the state of the economy and on the progress in the implementation of the stimulus package. The reports are confidence matters, meaning the oppositions could bring the government down if they are not satisfied.

"I'm going to look at the report tonight if I get a minute and tomorrow, and then we'll make a decision," Ignatieff told reporters in Montreal.

Talks of a summer election have been gaining momentum in Ottawa lately as the Liberals accused the Conservative government of failing to deliver reforms in employment insurance policies.

Meanwhile, support for the Liberals have been rising steadily since Ignatieff became the leader in December. Recent polls have put the Liberals at least five percentage points ahead of the Conservatives.

The Liberals would need the help of the Bloc Quebecois and New Democratic Party (NDP) to topple the government. Both parties have declared they would not support the government's report.

In delivering the progress report, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said 80 percent of the multi billion-dollar stimulus fund has been "committed and is being implemented," while confirming a record-high deficit of over 50 billion Canadian dollars (some 45 billion U. S. dollars) this year.

He warned the oppositions against forcing an election saying "needless political instability" could pitch the country off the course of financial recovery.

Source: Xinhua