Prior to the scheduled presentation of the provincial budget on May 2, speculation continued over whether or not Ontario will soon find itself in a spring election campaign.
Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak has said that it is unlikely that the PC Caucus will support the Wynne government’s budget, unless it undertakes a dramatic change of course and abandons its tax and spend agenda which has led to a near doubling of the Ontario debt over the past 10 years.
On April 25, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott responded to criticism from the Liberals that the PC Caucus should consider voting for the budget.
“You can’t expect an opposition party to compromise its principles just because the government lacks a majority and would like to hang on to power a little longer,” said Arnott.
Ultimately, it comes down to a matter of principle: a responsible opposition party simply cannot vote for a budget it fundamentally does not support, he said.
“When in Ontario’s history has any leader of the official opposition voted in favour of a government’s budget motion?”
Arnott asked. “I certainly can’t recall it happening here in the last 22 years.”
“I don’t recall Bob Nixon, Murray Elston, Jim Bradley, Lyn McLeod, or Dalton McGuinty, the Liberal opposition leaders with whom I’ve served, ever voting for a Government’s budget,” Arnott added.
Arnott suggested that should the province soon find itself in an election campaign, the PC Caucus is ready to lead Ontario again, should they receive the requisite support of Ontario voters.
“The Ontario PC caucus stands ready and prepared to assume the responsibility of government again; to restore this province to its rightful place as a leader in Confederation; to strengthen our economy so that our province becomes a magnet for investment and the creation of the new jobs that we need; to ensure that quality health care is accessible for those who need it; that our schools are centres of learning, idealism and inspiration; that taxpayers’ money is managed prudently, not flagrantly wasted; and that government is truthful and forthcoming, not sneaky and evasive,” Arnott concluded.
