The Progressive Conservative government led by Premier Doug Ford today released its budget entitled “Ontario's Plan to Build”. This election budget comes less than a week before the official start of the provincial election campaign on May 4.

Doug Ford’s re-election slogan is “Get It Done.” The budget is positioned as an action-oriented document to reinforce that branding. It’s about building everything from hospitals to highways to electric vehicle battery plants and beyond.

The budget speech by Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy often invoked partisan language, presenting a stark contrast in vision between the governing PCs and the opposition Liberal and NDP parties. The speech conveyed that while the PC government will build and say yes to projects, the Liberals and NDP will delay and deny progress.

There were not a lot of surprises in this budget. Many of its initiatives, like the vehicle registration fee cancellation/rebate, auto investments, and the gasoline and fuel tax cut had already been announced. New promises include an enhancement of the low-income tax credit, a new refundable Seniors Care Home Tax Credit, and additional funding for skills training.

The budget comes shortly after the NDP became the first of the provincial parties to release its election platform, which focused primarily on affordability and health care. While the Liberals have not yet released their platform, they have made some marquee promises such as ending for-profit long-term care and banning handguns.

With the Ontario legislature having adjourned without passing the budget and Ontarians set to head to the polls on June 2, one thing is clear: the province’s long-term budgetary direction will ultimately be determined by the voters.

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