By The Canadian Press

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper faces growing worries about the economy as the financial crisis south of the border continues to unfold.

Opposition leaders were expected to use the economic unease to hammer Harper during campaign stops Thursday in the key battleground provinces of British Columbia and Quebec, where polls suggest the election race is tight.

U.S. President George W. Bush warned in a televised address Wednesday night that failing to act on a $700-billion financial industry bailout could lead to "a long and painful recession" for his country.
Harper has tried to reassure nervous Canadian voters, saying there's no chance Canada will tumble into the same kind of financial and housing black hole as the U.S.

He has vigorously defended his government's handling of the economy and says Canada is well protected from a true slump by strong fundamentals such as robust consumer and housing markets and strong financial institutions.

The economy is sure be top of mind for many voters.

NDP Leader Jack Layton is in Kamloops, B.C., and Victoria, trying to turn voters toward his party as it struggles to catch up to the front-running Tories.

Harper speaks in Victoria before heading to Edmonton for a campaign rally.

Liberal Leader Stephane Dion addresses business leaders in Quebec City and then tours Trois-Rivieres.

Green party Leader Elizabeth May continues her whistle-stop tour across Canada with a visit to the southwestern Ontario town of Guelph.Green party Leader Elizabeth May continues her whistle-stop tour across Canada with a visit to the southwestern Ontario town of Guelph.

And Bloc Quebecois Leader Gilles Duceppe is expected to polish his separatist credentials in a Montreal speech with the Parti Quebecois' Pauline Marois - his former rival for leadership of the provincial party.

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has stepped up his media outreach with the same message as Harper, stressing that despite the global troubles, Canada's economy is fundamentally sound.

However, most economic indicators in Canada are trending downward and the main question on the minds of many economists is if the slide will stop before the country slides into recession.

Merrill Lynch Canada has suggested that far from being insulated from a U.S.-style housing crash, Canada is well on the way down the same path.