Small business tax cut promised by Ontario PCs

Small business owners in the province would see theirtax rate reduced by 8.7 per cent under a Progressive Conservative government, the party's leader says.

Doug Ford made thethe announcement Thursday in Cambridge at the family-owned Capri Pizza.

It would take the tax rate from the current 3.5 per cent to 3.2 per cent.

He pledged to put money back into "the mom and pop stores, the innovative startups and the family businesses working hard to get by" and called the tax break "real relief."

Ford also reiterated a promise he made in April that those earning minimum wage would not pay provincial income tax.

• How Doug Ford's pledge of 'zero income tax' leaves minimum wage earners worse off

During the stop Thursday, Ford was asked about recent criticisms that his announcements lack details.

"I think I've been pretty in depth," he responded."Every single day, we meet with a new announcement. So, maybe the other two candidates are getting desperate right now. We're making announcements every single day about saving taxpayers money."

Ford's announcement about the small business tax rate cut comes a day after the NDP launched their southwestern Ontario platform.

The NDP have said they would ensure33 per cent of purchases by an NDP government of goods and services would be from small and scaling businesses.

Steven Del Duca, Ontario Liberal candidate for Vaughan-Woodbridge, responded to Ford's announcement by saying the Ontario Liberals had created one million new jobs.

"We recently lowered the small business tax rate a full point, three times what Doug Ford is saying he would do. We all know Doug Ford willcut services like health care and education, which people rely on, and those cuts will definitely hurt small business," he said in a statement.