Government money being sprinkled around Hamilton is a clear sign the Liberals are trying to buy votes before October's election, the opposition said Friday as Premier Dalton McGuinty announced the city's downtown would get a $7-million facelift.

The announcement of the revitalization project came one week after the government promised major transit improvements for Hamilton as part of a $17.5-billion transportation plan. It also coincides with news that two prominent local Liberal members won't run in the next election.

The loss of Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Marie Bountrogianni and former television anchor Jennifer Mossop has thrown the Liberals into panic mode and they're trying to secure votes in the region any way they can, said New Democrat critic Andrea Horwath.

"I think the premier is here because the Liberal ship is sinking in Hamilton and they need to throw out some lifeboats,'' said Horwath, the member for Hamilton East.

"This community has been ignored for four years by this government, they've lost two MPPs in the last couple of weeks. They need to find some legs here and that's what this announcement is all about.''

Horwath also said several cabinet ministers have made appearances in town within the last few weeks, which she could only interpret as unofficial election campaigning.

"In four years I have not seen this much attention from the McGuinty government and, unfortunately, if they'd spent some time over the last four years (in Hamilton) they wouldn't be in a mad scramble.''

McGuinty insisted the announcement had nothing to do with the election and was the result of a year of planning.

And he said that unlike the transit plan, which will not go forward until after the Oct. 10 election, the Hamilton revitalization project is ready to move ahead as soon as the city finalizes the plan.

"It's now become government policy; the money's ready,'' McGuinty said.

"If people choose to interpret it as campaigning, that's fine. But I what would encourage them to do is seek the same commitment now from the other two parties because it's now government policy, we will flow this money as soon as we can, as soon as the City of Hamilton does what it needs to do.''