CAPTION: Ontario’s PC government delivered a throne speech on Thursday that highlighted key campaign promises including expanding wine and beer sales.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said most Ontarians would “suffer the results” under Doug Ford’s policies. (July 12, 2018) 1.

SOUNDBITE: Todd Smith, PC government house leader 2.

SOUNDBITE: Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP leader 3.

SOUNDBITE: John Fraser, Ontario interim Liberal leader PLACELINE: Toronto CREDIT: The Canadian Press STORYLINE: Ontario's new Progressive Conservative government vowed Thursday to bring in sweeping changes meant to restore public trust in the province in a throne speech that played up promises made by Premier Doug Ford during the spring election campaign.

The speech _ written by the premier's office and read by Lt.

Gov.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell at the Ontario legislature _ set out a road map for the new Progressive Conservative government's term, pledging to cut taxes, provide long-term funding for the health-care system and slash government waste.

It did not introduce major new promises but instead highlighted key pledges from Ford to conduct a line-by-line audit of all government spending, pull out of the cap-and-trade system and fight what his government calls ``oppressive'' taxes, including the imposition of a federal carbon price.

The government also laid out its plan to expand the sale of beer and wine to convenience stores, grocery stores and big-box stores, and to roll back restrictions on police officers, calling the measures a show of respect for consumers and law enforcement, respectively.

The government has been given ``a clear mandate from Ontarians'' to carry out its vision at a pivotal time for the province, the speech said.