Ontario budget to be tabled at Queen’s Park. Here is what we already know will be in it

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy is expected to deliver the Ford government’s spring budget at Queen’s Park Thursday as a trade war with the U.S continues to chip away at the province’s economy.

Last year’s budget focused on containing and mitigating the impact of U.S. tariffs through various funds designed to help impacted businesses and workers and by doubling down on infrastructure and critical minerals.

Bethlenfalvy has said the plan is working and this year’s budget is expected to stay the course.

“We are building the province we want tomorrow and a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy so Ontario becomes the best place to invest and do business in the G7,” he said at a press conference earlier this week.

The Ford government has already laid out a number of announcements and promises expected to be reflected in the spring budget. They include classroom supply spending cards for elementary school teachers, a temporary break on HST for those buying a new home, a new electronic system for health records, and rules to ban the reselling of event tickets for more than face value.

The government also announced in February that it would boost post-secondary spending by about $6.4 billion over four years. But at the same time, it said it would shift most student assistance to loans instead of grants, calling the current system “unsustainable.”