Ontario's embattled Liberals to table budget on May 1
Maria Babbage, The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, April 15, 2014 3:13PM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, April 15, 2014 5:28PM EDT
TORONTO -- Ontario's governing Liberals will table their crucial budget on May 1, a high-stakes document that could turn into an election platform if both opposition parties refuse to support it.
"It's going to be forward-thinking and long-term in vision," Finance Minister Charles Sousa said Tuesday.
He appealed to the Progressive Conservatives and New Democrats to support his spending plan, but struck a less than conciliatory tone.
"I'm proud of what we will be delivering on May 1," Sousa said. "And if the opposition decide they want to go against the very initiatives the people of Ontario have asked for, that's their call.
Sousa announced the date at the same time the province's top civil servant, cabinet secretary Peter Wallace, was set to testify about the alleged wiping of hard drives in the premier's office.
The legislative committee is examining the deletion of government emails related to the cancellation of two unpopular gas plants, which the opposition say was done to save Liberal seats in the 2011 election.
Police allege 24 computers may have been scrubbed with the help of former premier Dalton McGuinty's chief of staff, David Livingston, who is under investigation for breach of trust.
The allegations have not been tested in court and Livingston's lawyer has said his client didn't break any laws.
Sousa said the timing of his announcement was coincidental, but both opposition parties called it a blatant attempt to change the channel from the scandal.
Read the rest here:
Ontario's embattled Liberals to table budget on May 1