Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath held a press conference Tuesday to announce her support for the budget put forward by Ontario’s Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. Horwath thus put an end to months of consultation and negotiation, and weeks of speculation about a possible Ontario election.
A statement from the NDP outlined their reasons for supporting the budget:
“Last January, I made it clear that people wanted action on jobs, health care and the growing cost of everyday life. We said we’d work hard to deliver results for them and we have done exactly that,” said Horwath. “We will pass this Budget based on the commitments this government has made and we will keep working hard to ensure promises are kept.”
After the government put forward its Budget, Horwath consulted with Ontarians and put forward positive proposals to make the Budget accountable: including a Financial Accountability Office modeled on Ottawa’s Parliamentary Budget Office and ensuring new toll roads won’t proceed without a vote in the Legislature.
In the lead-up to the Budget, the NDP Leader laid out clear achievable goals for the government: make life affordable by reducing auto insurance premiums by 15 per cent, improve healthcare by creating a five-day guarantee for home care service, and help young people find jobs with a First Start jobs program that will help companies ready to hire and train young workers.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne responded to the NDP announcement, “I really believe we don’t need an election right now.” Wynne celebrated Tuesday 100 days since she was sworn in as Ontario’s premier. She replaced Dalton McGuinty, who resigned after a decade in power.
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