2017 Ontario budget has grown our debt and drained our wallets, says Huron-Bruce MPP

The Ontario Liberal government is artificially balancing the budget with previously-announced cash-grabs and one-time revenue streams to try to curry favour with Ontarians ahead of the 2018 general election, says Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson.
 
"The Liberals are trying to balance the budget by using money from their Cap-and-Trade scheme, increases to vehicle and driver registration fees, and the sale of Hydro One assets," she said. "Their spending in this budget has increased to a record of $141-billion - which is up more than $6-billion over 2016. Premier Kathleen Wynne and her Liberals have not curbed their spending. As a result, the debt this year will climb to a staggering $312-billion."
 
Just to reach budget 'balance,' the Liberals needed $1.8-billion from Cap-and-Trade, used $500-million in pension assets (despite the Auditor General's advice not to), and included $1.5-billion in money from the federal transfer, $450-million from land transfer taxes, and $1-billion from the sale of Hydro One and other assets, said Thompson. That totals more than $5-billion in one-time and unusual revenues to reach budget balance.
 
"The Liberals are recklessly gambling with the finances of our province," she said. "They've grown our debt, drained our wallets and spent billions of our dollars on their friends. They have no plan to help support sustained growth in rural Ontario, and ignored the Progressive Conservative (PC)'s four reasonable budget asks."
 
In an Opposition Day motion two weeks ago, the PCs asked for the following:
 

• A long-term plan to get Ontario's debt under control
• The government to take immediate steps to address the root of Ontario's hydro crisis, including - stop signing contracts for power we don't need, dismantle the Green Energy Act, stop the fire sale of Hydro One, and rein in exorbitant executive compensation in the energy sector
• Solutions to address Ontario's housing crisis, including - evidence-based measures to address both supply and demand, the establishment of a panel of industry experts, and an immediate review of the government portfolio
• Take immediate steps to make Cap-and-Trade revenue neutral, where any money generated is returned to hard-working Ontarians
• An immediate moratorium on school closures, and an immediate review of the flawed Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline that determines these closures

 
"The Liberals are demonstrating once again that they're only interested in what's best for them," said Thompson. "Ontarians need a government that acts in their best interests. Instead, today we've witnessed Wynne's Liberal government cook the books a year before the next election."
 
To read the 2017 Budget, click here: www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2017/budget2017.pdf.