Ontario budget to be tabled April 28, days before start of election campaign

Ontario’s finance minister says he will table the budget on April 28.

Peter Bethlenfalvy calls it a vision for a “better, brighter future” and a plan to “get it done,” echoing a new Progressive Conservative election campaign slogan.

The date comes with just a couple of legislative sitting days before the expected election call.

Premier Doug Ford declined earlier in the day to say if he intends to pass this year’s budget or just let it serve as his re-election platform.

In an Empire Club speech this week, Bethlenfalvy said his budget would be focused on building the province.

He says the fiscal plan will be prudent and accountable, that is ambitious but also invests responsibly.

In February, the Ford government introduced a one-time amendment that pushed back the deadline for the budget, which was expected by the end of March.

At the time, government house leader Paul Calandra said the delay was necessary to ensure that the government has the most up-to-date economic forecast.

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With files from John Marchesan of CityNews