Jul 03, 2014
By Scott Walker
It was the budget that became the campaign platform that will become the legislative agenda.
Premier Kathleen Wynne’s government will lay out its plans for the rare summer session of the legislature in the Speech from the Throne this afternoon.
The speech is expected to reflect the spring budget that triggered last month’s election. The highlights include $29-billion for transit and infrastructure, about half of it earmarked for the Toronto area; a made-in-Ontario pension plan; and investment in job creation.
The agenda’s spending promises will add to the provincial deficit. That has prompted debt-rating agency Moody’s to lower Ontario’s outlook from “stable” to “negative.” Moody’s says it has concerns about the government’s ability to meet its 2018 target for balancing the books.
Government sources say the speech will also outline a plan by Wynne to lead an Ontario trade mission to China.
Lieutenant-Governor David Onley will read the speech beginning about 2:00 this afternoon.
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