Provincewide Pre-Budget Consultations Support Government Plan for Fairness and Opportunity
Ontario is seeking public input to help shape policies and programs that will be part of the province’s 2018 Budget.
Yvan Baker, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, was in Thornhill and then Etobicoke today to conduct annual pre-budget consultations. He was joined in Thornhill by area MPPs Steven Del Duca, Reza Moridi, Dr. Helena Jaczek and Chris Ballard.
Consultations will take place over the coming weeks in Niagara region, Hamilton, Ottawa, Kingston, Oshawa, Brampton, Thunder Bay and Kitchener.
Ontario will also host pre-budget telephone town halls to reach more people across the province, and ideas can be sent by mail, email or fax (416-325-0969) by February 9, 2018.
Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
- Last year, 71,000 people participated in consultations that informed the 2017 Ontario Budget’s policies and programs.
- Through Budget Talks, Ontario is the first province in Canada to commit to funding ideas submitted by the public as part of its budget process.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“Pre-budget consultations are a great way for Ontarians to have their say and ensure the Budget represents their values and priorities. During these fast-changing times, it’s important the 2018 Budget reflect the input we gather to help people in their day-to-day lives. I’m glad people both in Thornhill and my community of Etobicoke have had the opportunity to contribute.”
“Pre-budget consultations offer the public a great way to share their views about what’s important to them — and what they think Ontario’s government priorities should be. Our government is committed to conducting an extensive consultation period to make sure residents of the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area are heard.”
“Our government’s pre-budget consultations allow the residents of Richmond Hill to provide their insights into the state of the province — insights that will help shape the upcoming 2018 Ontario Budget.”
“It is important that we create a budget that reflects the priorities of York Region. Today, we learned about what matters most to residents as we move forward. I thank the community members who came out to make their ideas, which will support Ontario’s future, known.”
“Today we have helped the province develop ideas for fostering economic growth locally and across Ontario. It’s due to this input that our government is able to make the decisions that have a positive impact on people’s everyday lives.”
Leave a Reply