Budget hot topic as Queen’s Park gets back to business

(Updated) Ontario’s legislature is back to work after a two month break. In the debate today: what will be in the spring budget, and will the opposition support it? Or will we be heading to the polls?

Premier Kathleen Wynne kicked things off early this morning with a news conference in which she said the spring budget will include revenue tools to raise money for her transit plan — even though opposition parties don’t support the idea.

“I’m not playing ‘Let’s Make a Deal’. We’ll present a budget that’s responsible and creates job security in the present and in the future.”

The premier says we’ll have to wait until the spring budget to find out which revenue tools will be chosen to raise money for transit expansion. Options include a gas tax and road tolls.

“It’s not possible without identifying a revenue stream.”

Opposition leader Tim Hudak says “It’s unfortunate the premier sees taxpayers as revenue tools.”

And NDP leader Andrea Horwath vows: “No new taxes, fees or tolls. Not on my watch.”

Horwath says she’ll describe how the NDP would pay for transit if & when there’s an election. Hudak focused his attack on job creation.

“Given that Ontario didn’t add a single new job in 2013, why do you want to do more of the same?”

Wynne retorted, saying “He’s got his info wrong. We created 90,000 plus new jobs.”

The Fort Erie race track also came up in the house today. Horwath says the government waited until a few days before the Niagara Falls byelection to announce new money for the race track, but it’s not enough.

“The government finally listened, and promised funding so that the Fort Erie race track would have live racing this coming season. However, one-time funding for this year alone is not a solution for the hundreds of families that depend on the Fort Erie race track.”

“Will the premier commit to reinstating the slots and race tracks partnership and insure that Fort Erie has a long and bright future?”

Wynne says the government has committed $400 million over five years and will only implement a plan that is sustainable.

“It was gratifying when the leader of the third party began questioning about Fort Erie and horse racing when the byelection was on the horizon. The fact is we’ve been working on this plan, we’ve been working to restore horse racing across the province. We had the panel in place, we had their recommendations.”

“I was determined to provide an opportunity for Fort Erie and the other tracks in the province to have a sustainable future. Now the leader of the third party is asking if we would bring back a non-accountable inefficient plan. We’re not going to do that.”

It’s not known exactly when the budget will be presented this spring. If it is defeated, the election would be held about a month later, either at the end of May, or the beginning of June.