Ford government to delay 2022 budget until just before June election

The opposition is calling foul after the Ford government changes its own law to postpone the budget until closer to the election. Cynthia Mulligan with why that could give them the upper hand.

The Ford government has introduced a one-time amendment that would push back the deadline for the Ontario budget.

The spending plan was expected by the end of March, but an amendment introduced Tuesday would move that deadline back to April 30th.

Government house leader Paul Calandra tells Richard Southern the delay is necessary to ensure that the government has the most up-to-date economic forecast.

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In 2019 the Ford government passed legislation requiring all future governments to table the budget before the end of March. Failure to do so could see the premier and finance minister fined.

“He should have brought an early budget to start solving the problems that people are facing, instead he’s paying attention to his own political benefit,” said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath on Wednesday.

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The budget is expected to lay out much of the Progressive Conservative spending plans ahead of the June 2nd provincial election.