Ontario Liberals to table budget May 1

Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals will table their budget on May 1.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa announced the date at a press conference on Tuesday.

Wynne said the budget will “present a fair, balanced, realistic plan to create jobs for today and tomorrow.”

Although it is not yet known just what will be in the budget, Wynne announced on Monday that the Ontario government will invest $29 billion in transit and transportation over the next 10 years split between Toronto and Hamilton.

About $130 million will come from the existing HST collected on gas taxes. The rest of the funding plan, including how much she will be asking the federal government to pitch in, is expected to be announced when the budget is tabled.

The Liberal minority government is facing the possibility of a spring election but Wynne said she would “partner” with the Conservatives or the NDP — or, if necessary, voters to push the transit plan through.

‘If the opposition won’t support us, then I am happy to take our plan to the people,” Wynne said.

The announcement was made the same day Wynne filed a libel suit against Opposition Leader Tim Hudak, seeking $2 million in damages.

The lawsuit stems from Hudak’s comments late last month suggesting that Wynne may have ordered the wiping out of computer hard drives in the premier’s office.

With files from Erin Criger, Kevin Misener and The Canadian Press