FACTBOX: Issues in Canadian election campaign

(Reuters) - Here are profiles of the largest parties contesting Tuesday's general election in Canada.

CONSERVATIVE PARTY

- Led by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, elected in January 2006 after more than 12 years of Liberal rule

- Had 127 of Parliament's 308 seats when election was called

- Emphasizes need for steady hand during financial turmoil, with only small spending and tax cut measures

- Has taken some steps to improve liquidity and promises to do whatever it takes to ease the credit crunch

- Advocates carbon emission limits on big industry but strongly opposes Liberal carbon tax plan

- Pushes crackdown on crime, including giving adult sentences to teen murderers and ending house arrest for serious crime

- Proposes to strengthen the military and do more to defend Arctic sovereignty

LIBERAL PARTY

- Led by former Cabinet minister and professor Stephane Dion

- Governed Canada from 1993-2006 and has run Canada more often than not throughout its history

- Had 95 seats when election was called

- Proposes carbon tax, accompanied by income tax cuts and subsidies for the poor

- Wants meeting with financial authorities within 30 days of taking office to see what can be done to combat market turbulence

- Would adhere to agreement to keep troops in Afghanistan till 2011 but does not rule out military spending cuts

- Promises to make Canada richer, greener and fairer

NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY

- Led by former Toronto city councilor Jack Layton

- Has never been in power federally but has sometimes held the balance of power enabling it to influence minority governments

- Had 30 seats when the election was called

- Would reverse C$50 billion in corporate tax cuts

- Proposes new spending on housing, education and public transit

- Promises to pull troops out of Afghanistan

BLOC QUEBECOIS

- Led by former union negotiator Gilles Duceppe

- Advocates Quebec independence but has not made that a major issue in this campaign

- Runs candidates only in Quebec and had 48 seats when the election was called

- Generally advocates policies on the left, including more social spending

GREEN PARTY

- Led by Elizabeth May

- Has never won an election for Parliament but won heightened profile when an independent member of Parliament joined the party on the day before the election call

- Further gained attention when May she was allowed to participate in the major party debates

- Advocates a stiffer carbon tax than the Liberals, accompanied by income tax cuts and subsidies

(Reporting by Randall Palmer; Editing by Eric Walsh)