Martin suggested to reporters that Canadians may be getting complacent about the healthy economy and ample social services.

"I think that Canadians have seen the benefits of a national government, a federal government that is able to really set the objectives of the nation" for financial help for cities, children and other priorities, he said.

"I think what they've seen is our success in that, and I think that to a certain extent they may be taking that for granted."

Voters, he added, should not assume that every government has a "a national vision."