Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said Tuesday that opposition parties would place Canada's recovery from the recession in jeopardy "just as we enter the home stretch," if they forced an election this fall.

In a speech at the Canadian Club in Ottawa, Flaherty also said the opposition parties are more in favour of taxation and higher government spending when it comes to the economy.

"Canadians don't want an election. Our government isn't seeking one," he said.

The Liberals, New Democrats and Bloc Quebecois have chosen to ignore Canada's economic accomplishments, he said, and have put "their own interests ahead of Canadians."

"At an uncertain time, join us in working to strengthen Canada," Flaherty said.

Canada could lose 400,000 jobs if the Liberals carry through with their policy proposals, Flaherty charged, in notes for the speech that were released to the media.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has said that Ottawa should avoid passing future business tax cuts so that money can fund social programs.

Ignatieff has also attacked the government's spending, arguing that while 1.5 million Canadians are unemployed, the Conservatives have opted to spend $16 billion on fighter jets and $9 billion on building prisons.

The Liberals also say that Harper's Tory government acted too late in reacting to the global downturn set precipitated by the 2008 financial crisis.

In Question Period later on Tuesday, Ignatieff described the Tories as a "spend and borrow government" that has produced a deficit of more than $50 billion while losing touch with the priorities of Canadians.

Flaherty claimed that Ignatieff wants to raise a number of taxes, including a carbon tax that the Liberals have abandoned.

The Tories have made Canada an economic leader and that they are keeping taxes lower than they would otherwise be under a Liberal-led coalition government.

"An unnecessary election would put all of this at risk," Flaherty said in briefing notes. "Not just our hard-won, world-leading status. But also our long-term growth and prosperity."

His campaign-style speech fits with expectations that the next election will revolve around ensuring the Canadian economy continues to recover from the recession.

But speaking later on CTV News Channel's Power Play, Flaherty said Canadians should have confidence that the economy is getting back on track -- especially when compared to the situation south of the border.

"Things are getting better," he said. "For example, in the second quarter there was more money being spent on machinery and equipment in Canada than in about 10 years or so. That's a good sign and will show up in the economy later on."

"We're still seeing pretty good consumer demand in spending," he continued. "We're seeing pretty good car sales. House sales are a little bit off, but that was probably healthy in terms of some overheating in that sector. And the employment numbers have gotten better from the recession."

With files from The Canadian Press