Province Delivers on its Promises to Respect the Taxpayer and Bring Back Accountability and Trust
“We were elected by the people of Ontario to clean up 15 years of scandal, waste and mismanagement at Queen’s Park,” said Todd Smith, Government House Leader and Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Since taking office, we have been delivering on our promises. We are mapping out a reasonable and responsible path to balance. We are putting money back in people’s pockets. And we are making Ontario open for business and open for jobs.”
Since the Legislative Assembly resumed the parliamentary session on February 19, the government has championed major pieces of legislation. The government:
- Introduced and passed the Comprehensive Ontario Police Services Act, 2019 to restore respect for police officers;
- Introduced and passed the Fixing the Hydro Mess Act, 2019 to reform the electricity system to reduce costs, drive efficiencies and lower rates;
- Passed the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2019 to cut red tape and create jobs;
- Passed the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act, 2019 to protect and modernize the province’s education system;
- Introduced and passed the People’s Health Care Act, 2019 to put patients at the centre of the health care system and end hallway health care;
- Introduced and passed the Getting Ontario Moving Act, 2019 to get subway lines built faster, improve road safety and cut red tape;
- Introduced and passed the Bringing Choice and Fairness to the People Act (Beverage Alcohol Retail Sales), 2019 to fulfill the government’s commitment to increase choice, convenience and fairness for alcohol consumers;
- Introduced and passed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment Act (Interim Period), 2019 to ensure animals remain protected during the transition to an improved animal protection enforcement system; and
- Introduced the Protecting a Sustainable Public Sector for Future Generations Act, 2019 to manage compensation growth in the public sector.
The government has also taken action to:
- Introduce the 2019 Ontario Budget: Ontario’s Plan to Protect What Matters Most, and pass the Protecting What Matters Most (Budget Measures) Act, 2019, which sets out a five-year path to a balanced budget to protect critical public services such as health care and education;
- Announce an historic $28.5 billion expansion to Ontario’s transit network to get new subways built and help keep people and goods moving on our roadways;
- Put parents and children first with the new proposed Ontario Childcare Access and Relief from Expenses (CARE) tax credit to allow families to access a broad range of child care options, including care in centres, homes and camps;
- Launch a $40.2 million auto plan, Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector, to safeguard auto industry jobs and position the sector for future growth;
- Release a modernized approach to education investments, including the release of per-pupil funding for 2019-20, a new allocation to protect front-line teachers, and a $330 million Priorities and Partnerships Fund to support high-impact initiatives;
- Invest $1 billion to make community housing safer, more efficient and sustainable, including Ontario’s new Community Housing Renewal Strategy to help end homelessness and improve community housing across the province;
- Challenge the constitutionality of the federal carbon tax at Ontario’s Court of Appeal to help prevent the costly federal government carbon tax from being imposed on the people, institutions and services of our province;
- Officially end the outdated, ineffective Drive Clean program for passenger vehicles to save Ontario drivers time and money.
- Launch a $30 billion infrastructure funding program to make the roads safer, commutes easier, and help create and protect good jobs across the province;
- Launch public consultations on how to better support children and youth with autism;
- Release More Homes, More Choice: Ontario’s Housing Supply Action Plan, and introduce and pass the More Homes, More Choice Act, 2019, to help provide relief to people struggling to find affordable housing;
- Announce $27 billion in essential hospital infrastructure investments over 10 years to end hallway health care;
- Provide more mental health and addiction services in communities across Ontario, and introduce the Foundations for Promoting and Protecting Mental Health and Addictions Services Act, 2019, to help vulnerable Ontarians access timely mental health care services they need; and
- Commit to a new digital plan to deliver simpler, faster and better public servicesto Ontarians.
Quick Facts
- Since June 2018, employment in Ontario has risen by 170,300.
- In 2018, the government saved $3.2 billion by finding efficiencies and reducing spending without compromising front-line services.
- The government has already reduced the deficit by $0.5 billion through reduced spending. It has been further reduced by strong economic growth. Ontario is projecting a $13.5 billion deficit in 2018-19.
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