By Pepper Parr
March 1sr, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Was it as sneaky as Liberal Party leader Stephen Del Duca suggests?
Liberal leader Stephen Del Duca points to the fine Premier Ford will not have to pay.
The news was that “ Ontario Liberals were blowing the whistle on Doug Ford’s Conservatives for sneaking through a change that would save Ford and his Finance Minister $15,000 in combined financial penalties for failing to deliver Ontario’s 2022 Budget on time.
“Doug Ford has decided for purely political reasons to hide his budget until the last possible moment before the election. If he wants to play those political games, he should have to pay the fine, not change the law,” stated Ontario Liberal Leader, Steven Del Duca.
Premier Ford includes section to forgive a fine he would have had to pay in a piece of legislation.
The change of rules is part of his omnibus “red tape reduction” bill, allowing Ford to sneak the $15,000 in fine forgiveness through alongside a $120 rebate on license plate stickers. For every dollar he saves Ontarians, he has saved himself more than $75.
“Ontarians deserve a government that plays by the rules and doesn’t move the goalposts for their own gain,” added Del Duca. “Ontario Liberals will reinstate the March 31st deadline for a budget. Which is particularly important to allow time for the Auditor General’s pre-election report on Ontario’s finances.”
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Why is anyone surprised? Much of the Ford government’s legislative program since covid took over the headlines has flown in under the radar to benefit friends and donors,