‎The minority Liberal government’s May budget, which could trigger a spring election, will be an “aspirational” spending plan, says Premier Kathleen Wynne.

Using that marketing buzzword three times during question period on Wednesday, Wynne repeatedly framed the fiscal blueprint as a product that consumers should aspire to embracing

“We are putting forward an aspirational practical document. That what our budget will be,” the premier said of a budget that will serve as the Liberal election platform if the party is toppled in the legislature.

“We’re going to bring in an aspirational, practical budget that will create opportunity and security for this province. We’re not going to succumb to the gimmicks of a party that never did the same,” she said, motioning toward Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak in the legislature.

When NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, whose caucus has kept the Liberals afloat through the last two provincial budgets, queried her about tax changes, Wynne merely said the “budget will be aspirational.”

As first disclosed by the Star, an income-tax increase on higher-paid Ontarians is slated to be a cornerstone of Finance Minister Charles Sousa’s budget, now expected May 1 or May 8.

Faced with plunging tax revenues, an $11.7 billion deficit and expensive promises for new transit and infrastructure, the Liberals are looking at a new surtax on individuals earning $150,000 and up.

Horwath urged Wynne to preserve the “fairness tax” on those making more than $500,000, a concession the NDP won in the 2012 budget in exchange for keeping the Liberals afloat.

That levy brings the treasury $470 million a year. Finance officials have refused to say how much would be collected if the surtax threshold were lowered from $500,000, which affects only 23,000 Ontario taxpayers.

“Two years ago, the Liberal government was forced to adopt the fairness tax on high-income earners. They had to be dragged, kicking and screaming to do it, and they pledged that they would get rid of it as soon as they could,” Horwath said.

Hudak, who has vowed to defeat the Liberal budget because he wants an election soon, said tax-weary voters have only one alternative.

“If you want taxes to go up, then vote for the Liberals or the NDP. But if you want a turnaround plan that will reduce red tape and taxes and put you back to work then look at me, look at my plan, look at my team,” the PC leader said.

“Look, tax hikes and doubling energy costs is no jobs plan — in fact, it’s taking jobs out of our province.”

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