OTTAWA -- Opposition party leaders said yesterday that the Liberals' ability to govern has been massively compromised by Paul Martin's firing, both because of the loss of the cabinet's most notable performer and the certainty of future infighting.

The leaders said the inability of Mr. Martin and Prime Minister Jean Chrétien to check their egos has not only harmed the party, but also the effectiveness of the government.

"Today's announcement has made an already-weak cabinet weaker," Canadian Alliance Leader Stephen Harper said. "It worsens the fundamental problems of this government, making it less likely that this government will address major issues facing the country."

Mr. Harper said the infighting and the loss of Mr. Martin will make it increasingly difficult for the Liberals to focus on issues such as the agriculture crisis and difficulties with the military and softwood lumber.

He said the recent cabinet shuffles -- this week's and one last Sunday, that included the firing of Art Eggleton -- reduced the talent around the cabinet table.

"All they do is shuffle the chairs on the Titanic and spread the talent a lot thinner."

Conservative Leader Joe Clark echoed Mr. Harper's sentiments, adding that the situation will only get worse as the Liberal Party wrestles over the next few months about how to vote next February in a review on Mr. Chrétien's performance.

He said the government is out of control, given the shuffles and a spate of ethical scandals that have plagued it.

"It can't even figure out whether the minister of finance quit, or was fired," he said, adding that both men are to blame because they have put their political leadership ambitions above the good of the country.

"The world doesn't care about the internal divisions in the Liberal Party of Canada.

"The world does want to know that there is going to be a strong and stable economy."

He added that the Liberal government's effort to set the agenda at this month's G8 meeting in Kananaskis, Alta., will go for naught because the finance minister normally plays such a large role at such summits.

Mr. Harper said Mr. Chrétien made the changes to government for political reasons that had nothing to do with Mr. Martin's performance.

Mr. Harper, whose party has experienced its own internal crises, would not predict how the difficulties will play out. He did say, however, there could be a potential split in the caucus.

Both he and Mr. Clark were asked whether the Liberal difficulties will benefit their own parties, a question each answered in the affirmative.

However, they still appeared no closer to working together in a right-wing coalition to end the vote-splitting among small-c conservatives.

Mr. Harper said he has already made an overture to Mr. Clark, while Mr. Clark said the door for co-operation is still open but that the Tories are currently building upon their own base in an effort to capitalize on the Grits' problems.