News & Events

Ontario Budget released today

May 1, 2014

The Ontario Liberals will release the government's spending plans at 4 pm today. Pre budget announcements have indicted increased spending in infrastructure including transit and hospitals.

One of the biggest-ticket items expected is $29 billion in new money, to roll out over 10 years, for transit and transportation projects. The Liberals have allocated $15 billion for the GTA and Hamilton areas, and $14 billion for the rest of the province.

The government has announced it will redirect the provincial portion of the gas tax, totalling more than $1.3 billion annually, to the transit fund. As well, it will redirect Ontario’s portion of the HST that is collected on fuel, which amounts to about $130 million per year. That still leaves a gap in funding, which Premier Kathleen Wynne said will be filled in with money from new dedicated revenue tools, as well as money redirected from other areas.

Among other big-ticket promises, the Liberals have announced:

• A $2.5 billion, 10-year “Jobs and Prosperity Fund” for corporate grants to attract business to the province.
• $2 billion to repair schools.
• $730 million over three years to shorten wait lists for people in need of developmental services
• $85 million over three years for In-Vitro Fertilization.
• $35 million to expand school breakfast programs.

CDAO members will be in today's budget lock up. Alliance member comments and releases will be POSTED HERE as they are released.

Please contact CDAO members directly (listed here) for comments

Back to News & Events main page