Which Ontario party would make your life more affordable? Depends who you are

Ontario's main political parties are competing for the hearts of voters by appealing to their wallets, with a mix of tax cuts and money-back rebates pitched as helping with the cost of living.

Doug Ford and his Ontario PC Party is campaigning off the one-time $200 cheque that his government is sending to every Ontarian, a $3 billion spend. 

Marit Stiles of the NDP is promising an ongoing monthly "grocery rebate" that would put about $4.9 billion per year back into the pockets of low-to-moderate income earners 

Bonnie Crombie's Liberal Party and Mike Schreiner's Green Party are both promising income tax cuts.

The Liberals are targeting the middle-income bracket with about $2.8 billion in annual tax relief, while the Greens' proposal would cut about $4.7 billion from the the income taxes of both middle- and low-income earners. 

Here's a comparison of each party's promises to make your life more affordable. 

Ford — who had not taken questions from reporters in Ontario for nine straight days as of Wednesday — spoke to factory workers about the $200 cheques during a campaign stop in Waterloo on Feb. 6. 

"The banks told me it was the largest cheque run they've done in the history of this country," Ford said of his government's decision to put some 15 million cheques in the mail starting in January. 

"It's not our money, it's your money. You paid it," said Ford, adding that his party's philosophy is to "give it back to the people that paid it." 

Ford, whose government was running a $6.6-billion deficit when he called the election, has repeatedly denied the rebate was designed as an election gimmick.

"We were going ahead no matter if there was an election or no election," Ford said during a campaign news conference in Ottawa on Feb. 4.  

Ford's rivals are attacking him for sending an identical rebate to every Ontario taxpayer, regardless of their income. 

"Mr. Ford has handed out $200 cheques to millionaires and billionaires like (Loblaw chairman) Galen Weston, the guy gouging you at the grocery store," said Schreiner during a segment on affordability in Monday's televised debate. 

"Let me tell you, I am not going to be giving a $200 cheque to Galen Weston," Stiles chipped in shortly afterward.