Opposition MPPs attack budget commitments at Queen’s Park

The provincial budget dominated Question Period at Queen’s Park on Monday.

The opposition posed several questions to Ford government Cabinet members on the budget’s commitments.

NDP Finance Critic Jessica Bell says there are specifically no measures to help make life more affordable or deal with the rising cost of groceries.

“There is no talk in this budget of lowering grocery prices or stopping price gouging. In fact, the word groceries is not mentioned in this budget at all,” says Bell.

Interim Liberal leader John Fraser suggested the budget could have been predicted by Wiarton Willie, in a reference to Groundhog Day.

“The same empty rhetoric. A cut and paste from the last budget,” says Fraser.

“They couldn’t even come up with a new title. All this at a time when families are hurting, life is harder.”

Ministers responded to the questioning by defending the $244 billion document.

Stephen Crawford, Minister of Public and Business Service, Delivery and Procurement, says the budget does contain measures that will save people money.

“We’re capping the resale of ticket sales in this province for the first time in history in Canada,” says Crawford.

“We’ve also brought about an HST and GST tax cut for new homes. That will save families $130,000 on a new home. That’s serious savings.”

MPPs are now debating the budget.

It is expected to be formally passed later this week.