TORONTO — Opposition MPPs are growing increasingly furious over their forced absence from the legislature.

Tory MPP Jim Wilson said he's not impressed by comments from some Liberals, such as Municipal Affairs Minister Kathleen Wynne, expressing discomfort with Premier Dalton McGuinty's decision to prorogue the house.

"For ministers like Kathleen Wynne...where the hell have you been?" Wilson said Friday. "Why didn't you have a showdown with your premier when it counted, when this terrible disgrace could have been avoided?

"It's nice that as part of your leadership campaign you're suddenly grabbing a backbone but you need to have one each and every day in this business, not just when it's convenient," he said.

The New Democrats launched an 'MPPs-back-to-work' campaign Friday in which they urged members of the public to push McGuinty and the Liberals to recall the legislature.

"When they closed the doors of Queen's Park, a lot of important work ceased, including an investigation into the cancellation of the Mississauga and Oakville gas plants. It's obvious to everyone that the scandal was spiralling out of control, and kicking us out of Queen's Park was the easiest way to stop it," NDP MPP Cindy Forster said.

Wynne wasn't available for comment but Liberal house leader John Milloy issued a statement in response to the complaints of New Democrats and Tories that they'd rather be working.

Milloy accused the opposition of purposely slowing down the business of the legislature.

"Between ringing bells and filibustering in committee, they did a disservice to Ontarians who were looking to all MPPs to work together and find a way forward," Milloy said.

The Liberals say the Ontario legislature sat for 78 days this year, more than any other provincial government in the country, yet was only able to pass half the government's bills because of opposition obstinacy.

Liberal MPPs are still at work trying to secure labour agreements with public sector workers, Milloy said.