NDP-Leader Andrea Horwath has requested that both Dalton McGuinty and Tim Hudak meet with her this weekend in a last-ditch attempt to ensure the passage of Ontario’s latest budget.

The Liberals and NDP have until Wednesday to come to terms, after their recent budget-squabble has threatened to send Ontarians back to the polls.

Horwath said she believes if all sides work together, a deal can be done.

“I’m confident that we are going to get to a budget on Wednesday that will pass this legislature and move on with the priorities of everyday people in this province,” Horwath said.

The bitter budget battle has been heating up, with the possibility now very real that Ontarians could be headed to the polls for a summer election.

All three parties accuse the others of trying to trigger a vote that they all agree nobody wants.

“The people who sent us here last fall want us to focus on their jobs, their health and the economy, not another campaign. We can spend the next four days getting real results here and avoid four weeks on the campaign trail,” said Horwath. “Every party leader has said they don’t want a needless election.”

Premier McGuinty, however, has accused the NDP of teaming up with the Tories to “gut” the budget ahead of Wednesday’s vote.

He said he would rather call an election than pass a dramatically altered fiscal plan.
 
It has been less than 10 months since Ontarians sent a minority government to Queen’s Park.