Kathleen Wynne won't rule out NDP coalition in case of PC minority

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says 'we'll deal with that outcome once it's upon us'

Image | ONT Elxn Wynne 20140528

Caption: Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne says her main focus winning the most seats in the Ontario election, not thinking about a coalition. But she wouldn't rule out a deal with the NDP should the PCs score a minority win. (Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press)

Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne isn't ruling out teaming up with the New Democrats to form a government if the Progressive Conservatives fall short of a majority in the June 12 election.
"I'm not ruling out anything except working as hard as I can over the next 16 days to make sure that we get to Queen's Park and we can implement our plan," she said Wednesday after visiting an elementary school in Markham, north of Toronto.
But the Liberal leader says her main focus now is working hard for the remainder of the campaign to ensure her party wins the most seats.
"I don't know what the numbers are going to be. The people of Ontario are going to decide what the numbers will be and when we get there, we will make that determination," Wynne said.
She says she's worked to make a minority parliament function and will continue to do that within the parameters that the people of Ontario decide.
"I have worked to make a minority parliament function for the last year and a bit and I will continue to work with the numbers that people of Ontario present us with," Wynne said. "I am going to work in all of the ridings around the province to form a government ... in order that we can then implement our plan."
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was asked Wednesday about the possibility of another minority government.
"Regardless of what decision (voters) make, it will be the right decision, because I respect what people decide in terms of the way they vote and we'll deal with that outcome once it's upon us," she said.
The Progressive Conservatives say Wynne's refusal to rule out a possible coalition with the NDP shows she's desperate to cling to power.
They say voters deserve to know if Wynne intends to form a coalition government if she loses the election.
"What is clear is that Kathleen Wynne is so desperate to cling to power that she will do absolutely anything to keep her job," they said in a news release.
Public opinion polls suggest it's a tight race between the Liberals and Conservatives, and there's a realistic possibility that Ontario will have another minority government.
In 1985, the provincial Liberals and NDP teamed up to replace the newly elected minority Tory government under then-leader Frank Miller. The New Democrats under Bob Rae signed an accord with Premier David Peterson's Liberal government, agreeing to support them for two years if the Liberals implemented some of their policies.