The Canadian Press

New Democratic Party leader Jack Layton, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, and Bloc Quebecois leader Gilles Duceppe, left to right, talk to the media.(THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld)

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says it's time for political leaders in Ottawa to get their heads "out of their kilts" and work together to help the country.

Wall said Monday he's dismayed by the actions of Stephen Harper's minority Conservative government and by the opposition parties' threats to topple the government and form a coalition.

"I'm disappointed in all of the federal leaders at this point," said Wall. "We didn't have to be here. If the economic statement wouldn't have also had a lot of gamesmanship involved, if it would have been about leadership, we wouldn't be here."

Wall said there was hope after last month's federal election that Parliament might succeed. But he said "somewhere along the line, political interests began to overtake the interests of Canada." This is not the time, he added, for Canada to have an unelected government dependent on the separatist Bloc Quebecois for support.

"I think Canada deserves a lot better than that. I am still hopeful that heads can come out of their kilts and that the right decisions can be made for the country."

While a new poll suggested the vast majority of Quebecers would prefer a coalition government to another federal election, Premier Jean Charest was treading carefully Monday.

The premier, campaigning during his own provincial election, declined to comment on the political crisis in Ottawa, other than to say that Canada needs a stable government now.

"Political instability and economic instability make for a bad mix and the proof is what is happening in Ottawa," Charest said during an election stop.

"When it's both of them at once, not only is it not ideal, it doesn't go in the direction of what we should be doing about the economy."

Charest added it's important that first ministers go ahead with a working meeting in January to discuss the economy.

"We haven't had a meeting on the economy for about 20 years," he added. "We have to move forward and we have to prepare for that ... regardless of the scenario (in Ottawa). It's a rendezvous which has to be respected."

Manitoba Premier Gary Doer echoed Charest's comments. He said his prime wish is that all four federal parties can find a way to work together. Doer, the longest-serving current premier in Canada and the only New Democrat, declined to take a public stance on the opposition coalition.

"Whoever is eventually in government, however they get there, I'm going to have to work with them," he said.

"What I feel and what I like is irrelevant. I have to work with whoever is sworn in as prime minister."

Doer admitted he spoke with federal NDP Leader Jack Layton on the weekend, but the premier wouldn't reveal what was said.

Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams, whose itense political battles with the prime minister are well documented, pledged Tuesday to work with either the federal Conservatives or a coalition government

"If in fact the government changes next week, as it very well could, then we'll certainly work with a coalition government and, of course, we'll have seven MPs that will actually be members of that government," Williams said Tuesday outside of the house of assembly.

All seven of Newfoundland's MPs are Liberals, thanks in large part to a campaign Williams led to rid the province of federal Tories in the Oct. 14 federal election.

"That's democracy at work, that's our constitution at work ... It's not a constitutional crisis," he said.

Though Williams was careful not to criticize Harper, he said the Conservatives created the situation themselves.

"Obviously, they miscalculated and made a huge mistake in their economic update," he said. "As a result, they've mobilized the opposition in unison against them. As a result of that... they are the authors of their own misfortune."

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach weighed in from Edmonton, saying the federal opposition parties need to "put Canada first and stop the nonsense."

He said there's a huge risk Canada will lose momentum as a country if the federal Conservatives are replaced by a coalition government, and he noted stock markets have "dropped quite a bit" in reaction to developments in the nation's capital.

The Alberta premier said every Canadian will suffer if there's continued uncertainty about who should be governing. But he also predicted that cooler heads will prevail in the coming week as the party leaders realize what's best for the country.

Canada right now needs "sane, prudent leadership dealing with the bigger elephant in the room, which is the global economic crisis," Stelmach said.

In British Columbia, Premier Gordon Campbell urged the federal politicians to not lose sight of the big picture.

"Let cooler heads prevail. There'll be a budget come down in January, and if the Opposition parties then feel that they have to be against that budget, that's fine," said Campbell.

"But let's try and stabilize the situation. Right now it's certainly anything but stable and I don't think it's inspiring confidence in Canadians.

"The last time I noticed, the Toronto Stock market is off another 700 points. How many messages do people have to receive to say, `Our job right now is to make sure there's a sense of stability and confidence in our country, our political leadership, our political institutions."'

New Brunswick's premier said he'll leave it to others to comment on the ongoing political drama in Ottawa, while he concentrates on helping the province's finances weather the global economic crisis.

Shawn Graham says he'll work with whatever government is in place.

"We're ready to work with the government of Canada," said Graham, who has been able to forge a good working relationship with Harper and the federal Conservatives.

"There's great political theatre that's unfolding today, but our priority here in New Brunswick is bringing forward a fiscal update."

Nova Scotia's premier said the ongoing political drama in Ottawa is doing little to promote Canada as politically stable at a time when world markets are fragile.

Rodney MacDonald said he would prefer the federal parties set aside politics and get on with the business of governing the country.

In Charlottetown, P.E.I. Premier Robert Ghiz said he, too, is prepared to work with whoever is leading the country.

"Regardless of which party or coalition is in power in Ottawa, as premier of this province I am going to work with whoever is there," Ghiz said.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty was expected to wait until Tuesday to comment on the political turmoil in Ottawa.