On Wednesday, the Ontario Liberals laid out their ambitious and very costly vision for Ontario’s future.
Families and seniors would certainly benefit from the many programs being offered, but be prepared for sticker shock when we total up the cost.
Many financial analysts have already labelled the budget as too costly and unrealistic in today’s economic climate.
But, many of those same analysts have rejected PC leader Doug Ford’s assertion that he can trim $6 billion from the Ontario budget without laying off staff or cutting programs. One number cruncher estimated that even if Ford fired most of Ontario’s civil servants, he still wouldn’t attain a $6 billion saving.
The NDP meanwhile, make no bones about the fact that they would raise taxes to fund their agenda, which bears a striking resemblance to the Liberal plan, at likely the same cost.
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So, the question for Ontario voters is simple: what kind of Ontario do we want?
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If we want the kinds of social programs being offered, we have to be ready to pay that price. But, if we want lower taxes and less government, we have to ask what government programs and services would be eliminated to attain that goal.
We’ll be bombarded from all sides with rhetoric and slogans over the next few weeks, some of it fact, some of it fiction.
Come June 7, we’ll have to decide: whom do we trust with Ontario’s future?
Bill Kelly is the host of Bill Kelly Show on AM 900 CHML and a commentator for Global News.
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