TORONTO - An Ontario election any time soon would be "dangerous" for the province's economy, Liberal leadership candidate Sandra Pupatello told a business crowd Friday.

Pupatello said she is sending a message to the opposition New Democrats and Tories that an imminent election would bring instability at a time when the province hopes to attract business investment and jobs.

"I don't want one. I'm not intending to have one," Pupatello said. "We should not be talking about an election right now."

She said she's also against a formal agreement with the opposition for the same reasons and that a political coalition is inherently unstable.

Six candidates are vying to replace Premier Dalton McGuinty at a leadership convention to be held in Toronto next weekend.

Candidate Kathleen Wynne said she has made it clear from the beginning of her leadership run that she would attempt to avoid an immediate election.

"I've been saying all along that I'm running to govern. If we have to go in an election we can do that and I think we can win, but I've been saying from day one in this campaign that we need to reach across the floor and work with the opposition," she said.

Wynne said she would bring back the legislature, which has been prorogued since McGuinty resigned in October, on Feb. 19.

Pupatello, who does not have a seat, suggested she would put the house back in action in late March after a byelection.