Guest: Robert Benzie, Queen’s Park Bureau Chief The Ontario government just released a record budget for spending, with over $198.6 billion allocated to things like health care, education, tax cuts and much more. With the provincial election writ dropping soon, there’s no way the budget can be passed before June 2 so instead it serves as the platform for Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives. With the other parties also releasing their plans to give Ontario voters a different choice, this budget plans signals that the election campaign starts now.