NDP Leader Jack Layton met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper Friday and says it's up to the Conservatives to decide if there will be a spring election.

Layton said he's confident Harper understands what is necessary for the NDP to support next month's federal budget. He said Harper gave no assurances but was cordial and listened to his budget suggestions.

Dimitri Soudas, the prime minister's communications director, tweeted about the meeting with Layton Friday.

"The PM was pleased to hear Mr. Layton's views. As the PM has stated publicly, this is not the time for an opportunistic election," Soudas wrote in one post.

"The Prime Minister indicated that our Government will continue to focus on what really matters to Canadians -- jobs and economic growth," he said in another.

The Conservatives' minority government needs the support of one opposition party to pass a series of confidence votes related to the budget.

With the budget expected to come down on March 22, an election could come as soon as May 2 or May 9.

The Liberals and the Bloc Quebecois look unlikely to back a Tory budget, leaving the NDP as their best hope.

Layton has stated that he wants the GST removed from home-heating fuel, pension increase and more work on solving the shortage of family doctors.