11/06/2019 15:57 EST
Ontario PCs To Spend $778 Million To Reverse Their Own Cuts
Premier Doug Ford’s government is spending more money this year than its April budget accounted for.
By Emma Paling
TORONTO — The Ontario government is spending at least $778 million this year on programs it originally cut in its 2019 budget.
Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government said it would spend $163.8 billion this year in its fall economic statement introduced by Finance Minister Rod Phillips at Queen’s Park Wednesday.
That’s up $400 million from the $163.4 billion the government said it would spend in its April budget. Some of this spending was covered by an already-accounted for contingency fund, according to the economic statement, which is why $1.3 billion in new spending is less than the increase in the “total expense.”
These are the reinstated expenses that the PCs had previously said they’d eliminate:
$41 million for public health units,
$26 million for land ambulance operations,
$122 million for municipalities to use for child care,
$310 million to fund the Transition Child Benefit and for people on social assistance now that some of the PCs’ changes to Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program have been abandoned,
$279 million for the Ontario Autism Program
Ontario’s deficit is now expected to be $9 billion this year, down from the $10.3-billion figure in the April budget.
Phillips said the statement showed his government’s “balanced and prudent approach to governing,” as he introduced the corresponding bill in the legislature.
“Our government under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford unveiled a bold new vision for our province — and the people of Ontario bought in,” he said.
“We promised to build a future with them where they not only worked to make ends meet, but where their government helped enable a better quality of life, and a higher standard of living, for all its citizens.”
Ford’s government has reversed course on a laundry list of controversial decisions after its first year in office was marked by constant protests.
The premier acknowledged Monday that his government is trying to hit a different note.
“You’ve known me for years, I’ve never changed,” Ford said to a reporter in Etobicoke, Ont. “I think we’ve toned it down at Queen’s Park.”
https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/ontario-pcs-spend-778-million-reverse-cuts_ca_5dc3323ae4b0d8eb3c8f1d10
Ontario PCs To Spend $778 Million To Reverse Their Own Cuts
Premier Doug Ford’s government is spending more money this year than its April budget accounted for.
By Emma Paling
TORONTO — The Ontario government is spending at least $778 million this year on programs it originally cut in its 2019 budget.
Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government said it would spend $163.8 billion this year in its fall economic statement introduced by Finance Minister Rod Phillips at Queen’s Park Wednesday.
That’s up $400 million from the $163.4 billion the government said it would spend in its April budget. Some of this spending was covered by an already-accounted for contingency fund, according to the economic statement, which is why $1.3 billion in new spending is less than the increase in the “total expense.”
These are the reinstated expenses that the PCs had previously said they’d eliminate:
$41 million for public health units,
$26 million for land ambulance operations,
$122 million for municipalities to use for child care,
$310 million to fund the Transition Child Benefit and for people on social assistance now that some of the PCs’ changes to Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program have been abandoned,
$279 million for the Ontario Autism Program
Ontario’s deficit is now expected to be $9 billion this year, down from the $10.3-billion figure in the April budget.
Phillips said the statement showed his government’s “balanced and prudent approach to governing,” as he introduced the corresponding bill in the legislature.
“Our government under the leadership of Premier Doug Ford unveiled a bold new vision for our province — and the people of Ontario bought in,” he said.
“We promised to build a future with them where they not only worked to make ends meet, but where their government helped enable a better quality of life, and a higher standard of living, for all its citizens.”
Ford’s government has reversed course on a laundry list of controversial decisions after its first year in office was marked by constant protests.
The premier acknowledged Monday that his government is trying to hit a different note.
“You’ve known me for years, I’ve never changed,” Ford said to a reporter in Etobicoke, Ont. “I think we’ve toned it down at Queen’s Park.”
https://m.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/ontario-pcs-spend-778-million-reverse-cuts_ca_5dc3323ae4b0d8eb3c8f1d10
