It could be an April budget

Plus: Meet Ford's new tour director, the NDP gets a star candidate, fresh regulatory proposals, and the latest on schools

ABOVE THE FOLD

BUDGET DAY BUZZ — Could it be an April budget? Queen’s Park is abuzz with rumours that the Ford government’s budget — the final fiscal blueprint of their first mandate that will serve as an opening act to the election campaign — could drop as late as April 28.

That’s later than expected. While April budgets aren’t exactly rare, the PCs put a law on the books in the name of financial transparency and accountability, which requires the finance minister of the day to publicly table the budget by fiscal year-end — in Ontario’s case, that’s March 31. Otherwise, Premier DOUG FORD and Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY would have to pay a fine and explain the rationale behind the delay (or they could just amend the law and keep the cash).

Context: It’s happened before. Last year, the PCs delayed the budget thanks to Covid uncertainty, which forced Ford and then-Minister ROD PHILLIPS to fork over a 10-per-cent chunk of their ministerial salary top-up — roughly $10,000 and $5,0…