Ontario Liberals to spell out priorities in throne speech

TORONTO – Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says today’s throne speech is the only way her Liberal government can spell out its priorities ahead of the upcoming provincial election.

Wynne prorogued the legislature last week to set the table for today’s speech and has denied it’s an attempt to wipe the slate clean before the vote on June 7.

READ MORE: Kathleen Wynne defends decision to prorogue legislature, deliver throne speech

But the opposition parties disagree, with NDP Leader Andrea Horwath calling it a stunt and Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford saying there is no reset button what he calls “15 years of Liberal waste and political corruption.”

Wynne said last Friday that the “technical prorogation” was called because a throne speech is one of the few ways to lay out the government priorities.

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The speech comes a week before the government is set to table its 2018 budget, which is expected to include a deficit of about $8 billion the Liberals say is necessary to beef up spending on health care, child care and support for students.

The Liberals have said no sitting days will be lost because prorogation falls over March Break and that all government bills and motions introduced earlier will be reintroduced once the legislature resumes.

The throne speech will be read by Lt.-Gov. Elizabeth Dowdeswell starting at noon.