Ontario election averted as NDP throw support behind Liberal budget

An Ontario election has been averted as the province's NDP opposition has agreed not to oppose the Liberal government's budget when it comes to a vote.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath announced on Tuesday that she would not force an election by voting against the budget. Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak has maintained his party would oppose the spending plan regardless of what it entailed.

“Last January, I made it clear that people wanted action on jobs, health care and the growing cost of everyday life. We said we’d work hard to deliver results for them and we have done exactly that,” Horwath said in a statement. “We will pass this Budget based on the commitments this government has made and we will keep working hard to ensure promises are kept.”

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Until Tuesday, there was a real question about whether Premier Kathleen Wynne's Liberal minority government would survive the budget process. The Conservatives had refused to consider it, leaving it to the NDP to decide whether to topple the government.

Instead, Wynne and Horwath held a private discussion on what the NDP wanted to see in the budget and, after several public requests from Horwath, a balance was reached.

In exchange for their support, several NDP requests will be implemented in the final draft of the budget, including a new Financial Accountability Office and new accountability measures in the health-care system.

Those steps will be added to an already NDP-friendly budget that already includes a 15 per cent reduction on auto insurance and assistance for home care and youth employment.

The NDP's request that the government abandon a plan to introduce high occupancy toll lanes was ignored, and a demand that the province's ombudsman be given more power was left in vague terms.

[ More Brew: Kathleen Wynne apologizes for gas plant debacle 11 times ]

“It’s not everything we wanted. It’s not everything people have told us they need. But we’re proud to deliver results that will make people’s lives better and government more accountable,” Horwath said.

It remains to be seen whether Horwath's party will vote in favour of the budget or simply abstain from the vote as they did last year.

Regardless, it appears Wynne will survive her first budget and get a chance to right a ship struggling amid the ongoing gas plant controversy.