A provincial budget just before the June election.

That’s what will take place Thursday at Queen’s Park as Finance Minister Peter Bethenfalvy tables the document, followed by an adjournment of the house.

“Usually the budget is introduced in the Spring and the government will run and hope for a second mandate based on that,” said Derek Parks, the campaign manager for PC Candidate Kevin Holland in the Thunder Bay-Atikokan riding. “Prior to (Premier) Doug Ford you would have seen the same move from Kathleen Wynne or Dalton McGuinty, they would table the budget and then the campaign would begin.”

As to what might be included in the budget, Parks feels Alstom might come up.

“There are some major transportation initiatives in Southern Ontario that will be looking to tap the local workforce up here in Thunder Bay,” Parks mentioned. “I think the other goal will be to get the economy going. Regardless of political colours, I don’t believe that anyone was envious of the position that politicians were put in when the COVID-19 pandemic hit and trying to navigate that for the past two years.”

The writ for the election is expected to drop Wednesday, May 4th with voting day set for Thursday, June 2nd.