PC and NDP leaders say they will balance Ontario budget

CAPTION:On the campaign trail Wednesday, Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford said he will balance the budget and “give relief” to taxpayers. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says her party’s “first priority” will be helping families. (May 16, 2018) SOUNDBITE: Doug Ford, Ontario PC leader SOUNDBITE: Andrea Horwath, Ontario NDP leader PLACELINE: Toronto CREDIT: The Canadian Press STORYLINE: The leaders of two of Ontario's main political parties trumpeted major campaign promises Wednesday — lower gas prices and subsidized child care — but were vague on the details. Doug Ford promised to cut gas prices by 10 cents a litre, if the Tories win the election, but he wasn't clear on how he would replace the lost revenue from cutting the provincial gas tax and scrapping the cap-and-trade system. NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, meanwhile, wouldn't provide details of what families earning more than $40,000 would pay for child care under her plan for the province. The NDP is proposing to fully subsidize public, licensed, not-for-profit child care for those lower-income earners if elected next month. Households earning more than $40,000 would pay an average of $12 a day, but the NDP has not given details about exactly what people earning more than that would pay, what specific income brackets would be established, or any caps.