Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak is accusing the Liberals of trying to buy Scarborough votes with the U-turn on the subway.

“Before the byelection ever took place, the province said, “No, we’re building an LRT,’” Hudak said Friday. “And the only reason why they’re even using the S word - subways - for the first time is because of the byelection.”

Hudak and PC MPP Vic Fedeli went to the site of another election about-face - the cancelled Mississauga gas plant - to ask voters in five Ontario byelections to keep the $585 million cost of relocating two gas plants in mind when casting their ballots.

The former Dalton McGuinty government announced halfway through the 2011 provincial election that it would, if re-elected, cancel the south Mississauga gas plant.

The auditor has estimated the cost of axing that plant at $275 million.

“If the Liberals get away with this kind of scam again, they’re just going to do more of it,” Hudak said.

When it was pointed out that switching tracks on the planned Scarborough LRT would come with sunk costs and significant additional expenses, Hudak said he had pushed for the subway all along.

A statement from the Liberal caucus notes that Hudak also planned to cancel the gas plants.

Transportation Minister Glen Murray said this week the impetus for the change of heart was city council’s decision to support a subway, not the byelections which include the riding of Scarborough-Guildwood.

The city controls land use and zoning - key in making sure the subway rolls, he said.