"The market always dictates. Not government - the market."

That's what Doug Ford said earlier this month, when asked about cannabis sector changes in Ontario.

Unfortunately, it was just more deceptive rhetoric - neither Ford nor the Ontario PC Party believe in letting the free market work.

They made that abundantly clear two days after Ford's statement, unveiling a budget so fiscally liberal it made the Wynne government's spending look somewhat reasonable.

Among the many expenditures, the Ford PCs are continuing to commit billions of taxpayer dollars to electric vehicle manufacturing in Ontario.

"In 10 years, people buying a new car will choose between an electric vehicle ... and an electric vehicle," beamed PC finance minister Peter Bethlenfalvy in the Ontario Legislature. Click here to read his complete Liberal-esque budgetary speech.

Over the last few years, the Ford PCs have been in lockstep with the Trudeau Liberals when it comes to funding big corporations - often matching the federal government’s multi-million dollar commitments to electric vehicle companies. Click here to read more.

By last Decemeber, Doug Ford was bragging that his PC government had “invested” over $12.5 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing.

The problem with the Ontario PCs' electric vehicle subsidies is that they create an artificial market that cannot function without government (taxpayer) assistance.

"Creating jobs" doesn't mean much when those jobs are reliant on bloated government spending instead of a real demand.

The Ford PCs are ultimately trying to implement the Liberal dream of eliminating internal combustion engines to reduce Ontario's carbon emissions - and not by letting the free market work.

We shouldn't be surprised that the Ford PCs' spending mirrors that of the federal Liberals.

After all, Doug Ford has been telling us that Justin Trudeau is "incredible," and that "there's no one that would be better in that [finance minister] role than Chrystia Freeland," for three years now.

The Ontario PC Party's love affair with the Trudeau Liberals is one of the many reasons the New Blue Party of Ontario exists.

With your help, we will continue to advocate for responsible spending and hold the Ford government to account when they emulate the Left - whether that be on fiscal or social issues.

Please consider chipping in (by clicking here) to help us keep building the New Blue Party and prepare for upcoming provincial by-elections!

Since PC MPP Merrilee Fullerton resigned last week, a by-election for Kanata-Carleton will be called sometime within the next six months - and we intend to run a great New Blue candidate there!

Thank you so much for your support.

Annie Nolan
New Blue Party of Ontario

P.S. Did you know that we recently launched a petition calling on the Ontario Legislative Assembly to reject Chinese Communist Party election interference schemes at Queen's Park? If you haven't yet, sign the petition by clicking here!