But Maggie, its all about setting priorities you see.

The overriding priority of the Wynne Liberal government is winning the election next June and thereby getting four more years at the public trough which pays a bucket load more money than $15 an hour to Liberal insiders and greater public sector union workers.

So when your popularity as premier is the lowest in the country, it is clear that your only hope is to get your hands on more money and use it to bribe the largest group of voters you can.  

Small town Ontario mostly votes Conservative and always has so there is nothing to be gained from practicing the frugality, financial responsibility and other moderate values that appeal to most small town folks or by caring about the survival of local businesses and their hard pressed owner-operators.

Better to bribe those big city folks who have usually voted Liberal and may be tricked into one more bite of the fiscal apple before Ontario becomes Greece without the charming islands.