Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty accused the Progressive Conservatives of making a "reckless" promise to cut the controversial health tax imposed by Liberals, and vowed to not raise taxes if re-elected this fall.

The health premium was one of the largest tax hikes in Ontario's history, costing each taxpayer as much as $900 annually.

The Liberal government introduced the health tax 3½ years ago, after promising during the 2003 election campaign not to raise taxes.

McGuinty said getting rid of the health tax would eliminate $2.5 billion in annual revenue and would bring Ontario "two steps back," to the days of health-care funding cuts by former Conservative premier Mike Harris.

"We've seen that movie before. We know what happens when people claim they can they can find efficiencies without making cuts," McGuinty said Sunday at a Liberal Party meeting in Richmond Hill.

"What I will not do is make a reckless commitment that would lead to another huge hole in our budget. We've been there," he said to the thousands of Liberal Party members gathered at the weekend conference.

Conservative health critic Elizabeth Witmer criticized the Liberals for breaking their 2003 election promise to not raise taxes.

"He has no credibility when it comes to promises, particularly the tax promise," said Witmer.

She said the Tories are not planning to cut health-care spending, but increase it by at least five per cent a year if they win the coming election.

The Conservatives said they would roll back the health premium over a four-year term.