Opposition Leader Carole James is calling on the provincial Liberals to move British Columbia's fixed election date to the fall to stave off any temptation by the government to fudge the budget.

James made the proposal to a half-filled room this morning in a speech to the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.

B.C. elections are currently fixed on the second Tuesday in May, every four years, but critics say the date is too close to the spring budget.

The Liberals have been criticized after tabling a revised budget early last month forecasting a $2.8 billion deficit, a far cry from the February prediction of about half a billion dollars.

An independent budget-improvements panel appointed by the government first suggested moving the date to further separate the tabling of the budget and the start of the campaign.

James says she wants the next election moved up to the fall of 2012. James also reiterated a familiar appeal to the government to cancel corporate tax cuts -- meant to offset the carbon tax -- and use those funds instead for improving transit and other green initiative.