Ontario NDP asks more from budget

TORONTO – Ontario’s New Democrats added to their list of changes they want in the minority Liberal government’s budget Wednesday and said they would be making even more demands once they wrap up public consultations.

The budget addressed many of the NDP’s concerns, admitted party Leader Andrea Horwath, but did not include “a key ask” to make government more transparent by creating a financial accountability office, modelled on the parliamentary budget office in Ottawa.

“This independent commissioner would be a spending and revenue watchdog of the government and its agencies,” said Horwath.

“We need to ensure that there are no more Ornge, eHealth or gas plant scandals in this province. Something needs to bring an end to the Liberals’ free ride.”

The Progressive Conservatives rejected the NDP’s call for an accountability officer, saying the province does not need more bureaucrats.

“If you think a government is corrupt and can’t be trusted with taxpayer dollars, the answer is not a new bureaucracy, it’s a new government,” said PC Leader Tim Hudak.

Horwath said she wouldn’t make the accountability officer a deal breaker for supporting the minority government’s budget because she’s still consulting the public and expects to make more demands.

“Am I going to draw a line in the sand at this point? No,” she said.

“I think there are other things that are coming forward that people are talking to us about that are ideas we’re going to be sharing as well. It’s all about making sure that this budget is accountable and balanced.”

The Liberals addressed a laundry list of NDP concerns in the budget, with promised cuts to auto insurance premiums, increased welfare rates and more money for home care services.

Premier Kathleen Wynne called Horwath’s proposal “an interesting idea,” but said she had been unable to get a meeting with the NDP leader.

“I need to have a meeting with her,” Wynne said in Kitchener, Ont.

“The budget is not a starting point for negotiations. I think it should go forward the way it stands. We’re not starting from scratch.”

Wynne repeated that she’s not afraid of what she calls “an unnecessary election” if the opposition parties make the choice to defeat the budget.

The Conservatives, meanwhile, moved a notice of motion Wednesday to try and force the legislature to debate its non-confidence motion filed over the $585 million spent to cancel gas plants in Oakville and Mississauga.

Wynne said the budget is the best time for the opposition parties to express confidence, or a lack of it, in her government, but PC house leader Jim Wilson said the Liberals “already bought that vote” by caving to the NDP’s budget demands.

Horwath refused to say if she would support the PC opposition-day motion to try and bring their “want of confidence” motion to the legislature for debate.