Ontario Budget could spark election talk
Posted Mar 27, 2012 05:09:06 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Spending cuts and a cap on public sector salaries are expected in today’s budget from Ontario’s cash-strapped minority Liberal government.
Finance Minister Dwight Duncan says the Liberals will reduce spending in areas other than health and education to eliminate the $16 billion deficit by 2017-18.
Duncan says there will be some things the opposition parties will like in the budget and some they won’t, and warns the minority government is prepared to fight an election on its fiscal plan.
However, the finance minister says he hopes that doesn’t happen.
The Conservatives are expected to vote against the budget, especially if it delays planned corporate tax cuts in order to garner NDP support.
The Liberals need at least two opposition votes to pass the budget, and the New Democrats are taking a “wait and see” approach on the budget.
The NDP are angry the government this week froze welfare and disability support payments, and say they’re worried families will bear an unfair share of the budget cuts.
