Legislature Opens

The opposition will focus on jobs, the $25-billion dollar deficit and the harmonized sales tax when the Ontario legislature resumes sitting today.

Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak says ``reckless and out of control spending'' by the Liberal government has landed Ontario with a record budget deficit.

Hudak says the opposition will be pushing the Liberals to abandon the 13 per cent HST and come up with a solid job creation plan.

He says the top issue across Ontario now is jobs and the economy.

The New Democrats say hospitals shouldn't have to cut services,cancel elective surgeries and lay off staff to comply with a provincial law that they not run deficits.

N-D-P Leader Andrea Horwath says if Ontario can afford 4.5 (b)billion dollars in corporate tax giveaways, then it can afford to invest more in hospitals.

The Liberals say they will pit their economic plan against the mud slinging and criticism expected from the opposition parties during the late winter sitting.

Premier McGuinty has already announced he'll prorogue the legislature within the next two weeks and return with a throne speech and budget in March.