Fresh off a majority government win, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne says MPPs will return to the legislature on July 2 and her party will reintroduce the budget that triggered the election.
Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park, Wynne said she is “very excited” to implement the budget. She also stuck to her promise of eliminating the $12.5-billion deficit by 2017-18.
The Liberal budget, presented on May 1, includes a 10-year, $2.5-billion jobs plan, $15 billion for transit projects in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas and $14 billion for infrastructure projects.
An Ontario retirement pension plan is also in the works.
The Liberals have also promised more money to reduce health-care wait times and expand the scope of practice for nurses and pharmacists.
“We have laid out very clearly our intentions and our formula for success,” Wynne said.
She acknowledged that Ontario faces big challenges in an “uncertain” economic climate, but reiterated her election night promise not to let down voters across the province.
“I will do everything in my power … to keep their trust,” Wynne said.
She also said that the legislative committee looking into the cancelled gas plant scandal will be recalled now that the election is over. The committee is expected to produce a report, but Wynne said it will be up to its members to decide whether new witnesses will be called to testify.
Despite the $1.1-billion gas plant fiasco, a criminal probe into the province’s Ornge air ambulance service and other problems that gave opposition parties and critics fodder for attacks, the Liberals won a majority government Thursday night.
Although the bitter election campaign is over, Wynne gave no indication that she will drop her libel lawsuit against Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak, who will step down in the wake of his party’s defeat.
Wynne said Friday that “the suit is underway” and she hasn’t had an opportunity to talk to her lawyers about it since the election.
The libel suit stems from Hudak's comments in March about Wynne and the gas plant scandal.
With files from The Canadian Press