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Opposition leader Tim Hudak and MPP Christine Elliott reacts during the Speech from the Throne at Queen's Park in Toronto, Ont. Tuesday, February 19, 2013.Kevin Van Paassen/The Globe and Mail

The Progressive Conservatives say Ontario needs an election as soon as possible, and warn they won't vote for the Liberals' budget, which won't be made public for weeks.

PC Leader Tim Hudak says Premier Kathleen Wynne used this week's throne speech to signal she would entrench the Dalton McGuinty legacy instead of cutting the size and cost of government.

Hudak says the Conservatives will vote against both the throne speech and the budget, hoping to defeat the minority government and trigger an election.

He says the sooner there's a change in government, the better it is to give hope to people in the province who have lost hope.

Hudak says it's unfortunate that the New Democrats have agreed to – in his words – prop up a government tainted by scandal by agreeing to support the throne speech.

However, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath has warned her party will also vote against the budget unless it closes corporate tax loopholes, introduces a youth jobs program and cuts auto insurance premiums by 15 per cent.

The Liberals need the support of at least one of the opposition parties to pass the throne speech and budget and keep the minority government alive.

Hudak also announced the Conservatives would introduce a private member's bill next week to impose a two-year wage freeze on all public sector workers, even those who've already had their wages frozen.

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