Ontario PC’s Unveil Election Platform

By: Laura Steiner

Members of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party (PC) gathered in Toronto over the weekend to talk election readiness, and unveil their platform.

1500 delegates gathered at the Congress Centre approved 139broad resolutions.  According to the CBC, the platform included 147 promises.  Leader Patrick Brown has promised not to run for a second mandate if the following five aren’t kept

  • A 22.5 % cut for the middle class
  • A 75% refund of child care costs
  • 12% more off hydro bills
  • $1.9 billion in new funding for mental health, what the PC’s call the largest such commitment by any province
  • Ontario’s first Trust Accountability and Integrity Act

The tax cuts are reportedly going to be funded by the cancellation of the Liberals’ Cap& Trade program, the charges businesses for the amount of Greenhouse gases they emit.  The PC’s propose to replace it with a carbon tax directly on consumers.  The revenue would be used to fund the cuts.  The total reduction on the middle class of approximately 2% from 9.15% to 7.1.  The lower tax bracket would shift from 5.05% to 4.5%.

Funding for the hydro rebate would come from the return of approximately $350 million/year in Hydro One stock dividends to customers.  The mental health money would be spread over 10 years.

The childcare costs would be returned via the revival Ontario Child Care refund.  The CBC says it would work on a sliding scale.  A single mom with a child under six could be eligible for a refund of $6750.

Additionally the PC’s would keep the Liberal program giving free prescription drugs to children, and young adults.  The tuition grant program would also be kept by a PC government.

Ontario’s next provincial election takes place June 7, 2018.

 

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