“This Budget looks not only at the days ahead but at the next decade,” said the province of Ontario’s Finance Minister Charles Sousa. “We are laying out a robust plan for a strong Ontario with more jobs, more opportunity and more security for now and into the future.”
Tabled Thursday (May 1) in the legislature of Canada’s second most populous province of Ontario, the budget includes an ambitious set of initiatives and spending on transportation infrastructure, repairing schools, expanding and refurbishing the province’s hospitals, and a 10-year job-creation fund.
The question now is whether the third party in the legislature, the social democratic NDP party will continue to support the Liberal government of Premier Kathleen Wynne, or vote with the Conservative party to defeat the government on the budget.
It’s a difficult choice for NDP leader Andrea Horwath.
Despite many criticisms of the Liberal government, the NDP also knows the province’s Conservative party could win if an election is forced by a government defeat. And the policies of the Conservatives are very much different from those of the NDP.
More information:
CBC News – Finance Minister Charles Sousa delivers Ontario budget – here
Globe and Mail – 15 essential aspects of 2014 Ontario budget – here
CBC News – Liberals deliver the expected, New Democrats to announce Friday if it’s enough to avoid an election – here
CTV News – Ontario Budget: Liberals make pitch to voters with 10-year plan – here
Globe and Mail – Ontario Liberals give NDP hard deadline to decide on budget – here
Ontario press release – Budget 2014: Building Opportunity, Securing Our Future – here
Ontario budget – here