Premier Dalton McGuinty says it's up to voters to decide whether he's trying to buy votes in an upcoming Ottawa byelection by lending a hand to Nortel pensioners.

The Liberal government says it will guarantee up to $1,000 a month for Nortel retirees who are worried about the insolvent company's underfunded plan.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says he expects the loan to help Nortel pensioners will be between $100 million to $200 million, but doesn't have a firm figure yet.

The move came after McGuinty called a March 4 byelection in the riding of Ottawa West-Nepean, where many of the pensioners live.

It also came just a few days after Liberal candidate Bob Chiarelli urged the government to make sure are enough funds in Ontario's Pension Benefits Guarantee Fund to provide a top-up to Nortel pensioners.

Opposition critics are calling it an attempt to buy votes, but McGuinty says he has confidence that voters will draw "whatever conclusions they feel are fair."

Last week, the Liberals also promised an estimated $15 million for a threatened Toronto hospital on the eve of a byelection that the party ended up winning.

Nortel employees worried about losing their retirement income have been lobbying the government for months.

Progressive Conservative Lisa MacLeod says it's disheartening to see the government wait until a byelection is called to talk about adding money to the pension fund.