The dance toward a deal began in earnest yesterday when the provinces unveiled their own counter-offer to Ottawa's new financing proposal, which the premiers had rejected on Monday as grossly inadequate.

It was a back-up plan that had been weeks in the works, but finalized when premiers chose not to attend breakfast with Prime Minister Paul Martin yesterday and met on their own.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Quebec Premier Jean Charest came forward around noon to introduce their new offer, presenting it as a significant compromise from their original demand -- down from $13.1 billion to $5.2 billion annually.

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer said it was up to Martin to deliver on his word.

"Is he really committed to his own election promises? He made a number of promises to the Canadian public. If he can't come forward with a long-term plan for the next 10 years ... then I don't think there's the political will," said Doer as he left the conference centre.

"I think he's going to keep his promise and I think we're making it very easy for him to do that," said Doer, who quipped that he would have much rather spent his evening watching the World Cup hockey final. Source.

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