SCOOP: Regional reform redux

And budget season kick-off

ABOVE THE FOLD

HAVE YOUR SAY — It’s that time of year again. Pre-budget consultations kick into high gear this week, with Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY embarking on a listening tour, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs holding travelling hearings, and the government’s survey launching on Wednesday.

What to watch: Staring down the possibility of a recession and sky-high cost-of-living, the Ford government’s first (new, not re-tabled) budget of their second mandate could see a tightening of the purse strings and a return to austerity measures.

Unlike the most recent campaign-era spending plan that was chockfull of vote-grabbing goodies, our sources aren’t expecting the PCs to make it rain again until closer to 2026. Premier DOUG FORD has already tried to buffer expectations of the public service, suggesting they shouldn’t expect higher wage increases like CUPE education workers were able to negotiate — Ford intimated the government was only willing to give bigger r…