The gloves are off.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has launched a blistering attack against Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, warning he would “take a bulldozer” to the province if elected June 7.

In a speech Thursday to the Economic Club — one day after the Liberals’ tabled a budget with billions in new spending and a $6.7 billion deficit — Wynne said “this election will come down to the clearest, starkest choice in this province’s history.”

“It’s a choice between care or cuts,” the premier said, noting Ford has vowed to reduce at least 4 per cent of unspecified program spending.

“We can go forward with the agenda I’ve outlined or we can go backward with Doug Ford,” she said.

Wynne reminded the 250 people at the luncheon that Ford wants to stop the planned increase of the $14-an-hour minimum wage to $15 next Jan. 1 and has promised across-the-board 4 per cent spending cuts.

“Doug Ford doesn’t think it is government’s job to stand up for the wellbeing and wages of workers,” the Liberal leader said.

“What would happen to the $15 minimum wage, to free child care, free medications and free tuition, or the actions we’re taking on climate change? We already know that a Conservative government would put them all on the chopping block,” said Wynne.

“There would be freebies for big business and cuts and pain for everyone else. So it really is a tipping point for Ontario — we have to choose between cuts and care,” she said.

“So when Doug Ford talks about cutting corporate taxes to match Donald Trump — as if that kind of race to the bottom is actually going to help our workers — I have to call that out.”

Ford ducked reporters at Queen’s Park, leaving MPP Vic Fedeli to speak on his behalf.

“Kathleen Wynne cannot be trusted. She is out today saying and doing anything it takes to turn the attention from her dismal record,” said Fedeli (Nipissing).

“I am not here to defend Mr. Ford. I’m here to tell you relief is on the way.”

With Wynne predicting Ford’s proposed spending cuts could cost 40,000 public servants their jobs, Fedeli noted “there is a tone of desperation” from the Liberals.

Despite several years of projected deficits in his latest budget, Ontario Finance Minister Charles Sousa says built in “prudence” will allow a return to balance. Opposition leaders said the Liberals are trying to win votes with spending. (The Canadian Press)

“The only person who is talking about cuts is Kathleen Wynne and the only person who Doug Ford is going to cut is Kathleen Wynne,” he said.

“We will go through the hundreds of these agencies and continue to make efficiencies without cutting one person.”

Earlier, Wynne blasted Ford for for sloganeering.

“He wants this campaign to be about soundbites and I can’t stop him from campaigning that way,” she said before launching some bumper-sticker attacks of her own.

“Doug Ford wants to take a bulldozer to a province that has worked so hard to get to this place — a place where we can finally say to every child if you get the grades you can go to college or university,” said Wynne.

“Where we can finally say to every parent, if you want to go back to work, your child will get great care,” she said.

Beyond the new $2.2 billion free child-care program for preschoolers aged two and a half to kindergarten, there were lots of ambitious initiatives in Thursday’s budget.

Under a promised new drug and dental program, Ontarians lacking workplace health insurance would get up to $700 a year to defray the cost of medicines and dentist visits starting in summer 2019.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

It would augment the new OHIP+ pharmacare program for people under 25, but has been criticized for low annual maximum payouts of $400 for singles, $600 for couples and $700 for a family of four with two children. The effort would cost the treasury $500 million a year and require people to pay up front and submit receipts to the government for reimbursement.

Seniors were also the big winners in the budget — with more money for long-term care and free prescriptions, as well as a new fund for those who need help maintaining their homes.

Those still living independently at age 75 could receive up to $750 a year to pay for anything from snow shovelling to lawn mowing under the Seniors’ Healthy Home program.

Scheduled to start in 2020 — with the government pledging $1 billion over three years — specific details will be worked out following public consultations. However, items already covered under government programs — such as prescriptions or other medical expenses — will be ineligible.

Read more about: