Ontario Liberals to present budget ahead of the spring election

TORONTO – Ontario’s Liberal government will present its final budget today before voters head to the polls in early June.

The 2018 budget caps off days of policy announcements that have seen the party pledge billions of dollars for health care and promise free child care for preschoolers.

READ MORE: Ontario Liberals vow to offer free child care for pre-schoolers beginning in 2020

The government has said the 2018 budget will run a deficit of one per cent of the gross domestic product – potentially as high as $8 billion – reneging on a key promise to balance the books for another year.

Their recent spending promises have been panned by the opposition as political moves meant to curry favour with voters.

But the Liberals, who continue to lag in the polls, have said the added spending is necessary to help struggling Ontario residents, adding the fiscal blueprint would include a clear path to balance.

READ MORE: After days of spending promises, Ontario Liberals to present last budget before election

The latest promise, delivered Tuesday, was a $2.2-billion program beginning in 2020 to fund the cost of full-day, licensed child care after children turn two-and-a-half.

The Ontario election will be held on June 7.

VIDEO: Premier Wynne announced free child care for pre-schoolers in 2020