Ford promises tax credit for minimum wage earners

Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford arrived in Ottawa Monday, where heannounced a PC government will offer a provincial tax creditto minimum wage earners starting Jan. 1, 2019.

"Under the PC government, ifyou are makingminimum wage you will pay zero per cent tax," Ford told supporters at a restaurant in the Ottawa riding of Orlans.

It was the first of what will be five major policy announcements ahead of the official start of the provincial election campaign.

The credit will benefit some 623,000 workers and cost of $500 million peryear, according to a background document from the party. It will save the typical full-time minimum-wager earner $800 per year, the party said.

Ford has vowed to roll back the Liberal government's minimum wage increase next year to $15 per hour.

Doug Ford makes minimum wage promise

6 years ago

Duration 0:25

The leader of Ontario's Progressive Conservatives used a trip to Ottawa to promise tax relief for minimum wage workers.

Swing riding

Ford's decision to deliver the promise inOrlanswas intentional, PC insiders tell CBC, becausetheriding has traditionally voted with the government in power.

The PCs are eyeing Orlans as a swing riding, along with GlengarryPrescottRussell and OttawaWestNepean.

"Ottawa's a very important area, important to the province, but it's also important to our campaign," Ford said.

The sitting Liberal MPP, cabinet minister Marie-France Lalonde, won her seat with a comfortable 54 per cent of the vote.

The PC candidate for Orlans,Cameron Montgomery, said Ford's visit his first since his election as leader sends animportant signal to constituents.

"It's so important," Montgomery said. "There's a wave of positivity and a feeling of change."

Montgomery, a francophone who has worked for more than 15 years withthe MontfortHospital's mental health research unit, has beencanvassing in the riding for more than a year.

Ford will remain in Ottawa to attend a rally with supporters at the NepeanSportsplex Monday evening.