TORONTO - Two rebellious Progressive Conservatives who staged a sit-in in the Ontario legislature over the HST won't be returning to the chamber any time soon.

"I'm disappointed to say that the situation has not been resolved and my decision still stands that they remain suspended for the remainder of the session," Speaker Steve Peters told The Canadian Press.

Peters said he met Wednesday with Randy Hillier and Bill Murdoch at their request, where he laid down his terms for their return: a little-known rite known as "appearing before the bar."

The tradition, which appears to have only been used in federal Parliament, would require the Tories to show up at the door of the chamber and offer a "tightly worded" apology to both the speaker and the house, Peters said.

Murdoch had previously seemed open to making amends, and even suggested the apology as a way the two could reclaim their seats.

Peters wouldn't say why an agreement wasn't reached on Wednesday, citing the confidential nature of the discussions.

"I'm certainly prepared and willing to continue to talk to them," he added.

Premier Dalton McGuinty's recent decision to prorogue the legislature may have changed the Tories' minds.

McGuinty is planning to shut down the legislature for a "limited break" and start a new session after the Vancouver Olympics with a speech from the throne. That would allow Hillier and Murdoch to return to the Opposition benches.

Peters banished the notorious pair of Tories two months ago for misbehaving after days of escalating protest by the Opposition.

Murdoch triggered the suspension by calling McGuinty a liar -- a well-known no-no in the legislature -- and refusing to retract the remark.

Joined by Hillier, the pair refused to leave and staged a 44-hour sit-in that made headlines across the country.

Both Murdoch and Hillier apologized to Peters when they ended the sit-in on Dec. 2, but it wasn't recorded because the two had already been ordered to leave and weren't recognized by the Speaker.