Ontario government's budget nothing more than a shell game, says Huron-Bruce MPP

The Ontario Liberal government's budget, released Thursday, is not a substantive plan to get Ontario back on a firm economic footing and eliminate the deficit by 2017-18, says Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson.

 

"My colleagues and I can't support this budget," she says. "In the past few weeks, we laid out five areas to be included in this budget that would help make Ontarians better off. None of those areas was addressed in the way we requested. In fact, in some areas, it is totally opposite. These five asks were minimums for our caucus - and they haven't been met."

 

Last week, Thompson met with the Huron County Economic Board and heard its concerns on how to sustain jobs in the county.

"This budget shows no incentive for businesses or entrepreneurs, whatsoever," says Thompson. "We have the highest energy rates in North America, the government is adding a carbon tax to businesses and a payroll tax to employers (ORPP). The Liberals are chasing jobs out of this province.

 

"While the government is talking about its spending on infrastructure, the $13- billion is actually the same amount as in last year's budget. 

 

"There's no new money and, in fact, last year the Liberals said only $3.1-billion in asset sales would be needed to achieve that spending and the remainder would be covered through general revenues. Now, the government is saying it has to sell significant assets to pay for the same initiatives. The new money will be used to lower the deficit. It's just a shell game."

 

Additionally, she says, the amount spent on the interest on the debt is the highest growth area in this budget - an average annual increase of 5.7 per cent - which is more than the growth in any other sector, including health and education. 

 

"The Liberals are taking money from health care to pay for the interest on the debt. This leaves them in a position where they can't afford to do things such as necessary updates to the Kincardine hospital, or keep the Chesley Restorative Care Unit. It's absolutely shameful!

 

"Ontarians can't afford this budget or the direction the government is taking this province. They certainly can't afford the high electricity rates and new taxes."