Ontario party leaders are reacting to the Ontario government’s 2024 Fall Economic Statement released today and saying the government isn’t doing enough to address key issues in the province.
On Wednesday, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2024 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review titled, “Building Ontario For You.” The plan is aimed at making life more affordable by reducing taxes, interest rates and inflation. The government says the current forecast deficit stands at $6.6 billion for the 2024-2025 budget year, down from the $9.8 billion in previous year.
“Our government’s responsible approach has resulted in an improved fiscal position since the 2024 Budget, allowing us to keep taxes low, invest in infrastructure like roads, highways, hospitals and schools, and provide immediate relief to Ontario families as part of our plan to keep costs down,” Bethlenfalvy said in a statement.
The province projects a deficit of $1.5 billion in 2025-2026, in addition to a $900 million surplus in 2026-2027.
Some of the new measures included in the statement include:
- A $200 taxpayer rebate early next year to all eligible adults who filed their 2023 Income Tax and Benefit Return by Dec. 31, 2024.
- Extending the temporary gas and fuel tax cuts to June 30, 2025, saving Ontario households $380 on average since being implemented in July 2022.
- Starting in 2026, the government is investing an estimated $88 million over three years to expand Learn and Stay grants for 1,360 eligible undergraduate students to help cover tuition and education costs.
- Investing an additional $150 million over two years to expand the Ontario Fertility Program (OFP) beginning in 2025-26.
- Increasing the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF) by $100 million over the next two years, bringing the total funding to $600 million by 2026
- Investing $27.8 billion over 10 years to build highways and roads, getting drivers moving and out of gridlock
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REACTIONS FROM ONTARIO POLITICIANS
In response to the plan, numerous Ontario political party leaders say Doug Ford’s government is not putting their money where their mouth is and that more can be done for Ontarians.
Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie says Ford has “introduced yet another failed Fall Economic Statement” that only helps his rich friends.
“Doug Ford is more focused on billion-dollar giveaways to wealthy insiders than he is on fixing health care. People are dying on waitlists and Doug Ford is spending billions on booze, foreign spas and the Greenbelt scandal,” Crombie said on X.
Leader of Ontario NDP and MPP for Davenport Marit Stiles says Ontario has become a “have-not” province receiving more in equalization payments year-over-year.
“Today’s fiscal update was an opportunity for this government to make the right choices to ease the cost of living. Instead, all Ford has to offer are stale ideas and empty promises. With Doug Ford, you’re not getting what you paid for,” she shared on X.
Meanwhile, Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also released a statement asking Ontarians to question the statement.
“I want to ask the people of this province: are you getting what you deserve from this government? Costs are up, homes aren’t getting built, climate change is worse and our healthcare system is failing those of us who need it most,” he said.
“The Ford government has abandoned us. All the things that we should be able to expect from provincial governments – to keep our neighbours housed, to make sure homes get built, that doctors are available, mental health is accessible – the Premier has walked away from,” he continued.
