After opposition parties declared their intentions to vote against the minority Conservative's budget on Tuesday, there appears to be only one way out of a spring election --- significant amendments.

But as CityNews reporter Francis D'Souza learned on Tuesday, the Conservatives don't seem willing to make the alterations which could potentially sway one of the parties to vote for the budget, avoiding a trip to the polls.

"This is not a negotiation," Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told D’Souza Tuesday.

That seemingly stubborn stance irked NDP leader Jack Layton, who reiterated that he was willing to negotiate, but didn’t expect his openness to be reciprocated.

"It's typical of the Stephen Harper-style of management, 'It's my way or the highway' you take what I give you, or get lost," Layton said.

"We are open and we've done it before with the Paul Martin Liberals.  They wanted to give a big gift to the banks and the oil companies and we said, 'take that money and put it into transit and housing and education', and ultimately they needed our votes and they decided they would do that...I don't feel that impulse coming from Harper but I've got to say we are always ready to try and make Parliament work."

Flaherty seemed willing to accept the inevitable.

"It will go to a vote in the House of Commons and if the opposition parties vote it down then we'll have an election.  If they don't vote it down then we won't have an election,” he said, stating the obvious.

"I don't know any Canadians who want an election," he added.

That seems to include Layton.

"It would have been my preference to get results for Canadians (today).  Unfortunately this budget didn’t deliver what was needed," he said.

"We are ready for (an election) too.  Our candidates and MPs have been strong and we are ready to go."