UPDATE 2-Canada's Conservatives could be headed for big win

Dion told a rally in Montreal on Monday he was not concerned about the polls and said the Liberals would triumph over Harper and his "laissez-faire, I-don't-care approach".

"His direction is a recession, his direction is a deficit, his direction is a mess that he's giving to this economy again," he said.

Canada's television networks announced on Monday the party leaders would have two nationally-televised debates, one in French on Oct. 1, and another in English on Oct. 2.

But the networks rejected a request from the Green Party to be included in the debates after three of the more more established parties objected. (Additional reporting by Randall Palmer in Ottawa; Editing by Peter Galloway)