Education, Careers & Professional News
More For Education, Health In Budget
The Liberal governments second Ontario budget will include more money for health care, schools, colleges and universities, a timetable for eliminating the deficit, and a five-year plan for building new roads, water systems, schools and hospitals.
This budget in particular will give expression to what I think are three big priorities on behalf of the people of Ontario: good education, good health care and good financial management, Premier Dalton McGuinty said Tuesday.
We will speak to, through our budget, a stronger health-care system. We will as well do more to build a stronger, more sustainable, more robust economy.
McGuinty has repeatedly ruled out any new taxes or tax increases in the budget.
Liberal sources said its no coincidence McGuinty made his pre-budget comments at a Toronto hospital, while Finance Minister Greg Sorbara was at Ryerson University designing a new pair of pre-budget shoes with the aid of a computer.
Sorbara refused to discuss the contents of the budget, but said the government would have a lot of explaining to do if it didnt follow through on a report by former premier Bob Rae, who recommended more than $2 billion in new funding for Ontarios colleges and universities.
The (Rae) report made a strong case for doing more in this sector, Sorbara told reporters.
I think were we not to do more, we would have to respond to the question: Why do a report where such a strong case is made, and then not respond?
Sorbara also promised a timetable in the budget for eliminating the provinces deficit, estimated at $6 billion. He wouldnt say if the Liberals would keep their commitment to balance Ontarios books by the end of their first mandate in 2007.
Were going to be doing exactly what we did last year and set out financial forecasts over a particular period of time, and it will show how the provinces deficit will be eliminated, he said.
Last years budget forecast the deficit would be reduced to $2.2 billion by now, but the provincial auditor rejected an accounting manoeuvre Sorbara had tried to use to cut the deficit by $3.9 billion.
In the legislature, NDP Leader Howard Hampton drew a reprimand from the Speaker for suggesting that McGuintys reputation for breaking promises means people cannot trust the governments budget plans.
Should anyone believe whats in your budget? Hampton asked.
He later told reporters: This is a premier who always exaggerates, and I think people are having more and more trouble believing anything the McGuinty government says.
Conservative critic Jim Flaherty said he has no confidence the Liberals will balance Ontarios books by 2007.
The spending profile so far demonstrates that they cannot control their spending, he said. To stick to a plan, you have to restrict spending, and they failed to do that.
Sorbara also ruled out any major cuts to the provincial civil service, and described his budget as a responsive and responsible fiscal plan.
Its not a big secret to say that were going to make significant new gains and progress on the priorities, he said, referring to health care and education.
The other part of it is we are going to exercise really strong financial discipline and management.
On Monday, Infrastructure Minister David Caplan said the budget would contain a five-year plan to address Ontarios crumbling infrastructure by turning to the private sector to finance construction of new roads, bridges, water systems, schools, hospitals and courthouses.