Premier Doug Ford and his government are going to spend more money this year than any previous Ontario government.
On Thursday afternoon, Finance Minister Peter Bethlanfalvy took the wraps off a provincial budget that calls for $232.5 billion in spending. The figure eclipses the spending total of any Ontario government that has come before.
The budget, called "A Plan To Protect Ontario", focuses on protecting Ontario in the midst of a trade war with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
"Our government is delivering on our mandate to protect Ontario and help workers and businesses weather the storm, while creating the long-term foundations for a strong, resilient and competitive economy," Bethlenfalvy said. "We’re making the investments in workers, infrastructure and services that will protect Ontario, no matter what."
The budget forecasts a deficit in 2024-2025 of $6 billion, although the government says it is still on track to balance the books by 2027–2028.
Focusing on the trade war with the U.S., Bethlanfalvy told the Legislature that he is heartened by the show of patriotism from Ontarians and other Canadians, but he said the federal government and the provinces must work together to face the challenges posed by the protectionism of the American adminstration. He said Ottawa and the provinces will need to co-operate to "deliver on nation-building projects such as reactors, seaports, railroads, pipelines and refineries.”
Bethlanfalvy also announced a $5 billion dollar fund, called the Protecting Ontario Account, that will make money available to businesses that suffer revenue decreases due to the Trump tariffs.
"This fund will provide immediate liquidity relief as an emergency backstop for Ontario businesses that have exhausted available funding," the province said in a post-budget media release.
But perhaps in a nod to Trump's demand for a more secure northern border, the budget also includes $57 million for the purchase of two helicopters for police services in Windsor and the Niagara region, meant for increasing border surveillance.
Other budget highlights include:
-An additional $1 billion over three years for the Skills Development Fund Capital and Training Streams, bringing the total funding commitment to $2.5 billion. The government says the investments will improve training programs and upgrade training centres.
-A proposal to make the gasoline and fuel tax cuts permanent, which the government says would save the average household $115 per year.
-$30 billion in spending on highways construction and improvements.
-$30 billion in spending for additional schools and child care spaces in Ontario.
-A total health care budget of $91.1 billion. While that is an increase from the $89.3 billion in last year's budget, the amount does not keep up with the rate of inflation.
-$41 billion will be spent on elementary and secondary education, with $13 billion earmarked for post-secondary education.
NDP leader Marit Stiles was quick to point out the budget's flaws.
"This is a missed opportunity to strengthen Ontario. The Premier and his government had a choice -- to build a tariff-proof future so Ontario can take on the economic uncertainties from Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs," said Stiles. "“For families already stretched thin, for the over-worked health care and education workers struggling to make ends meet, for the auto workers worried about their livelihoods – this budget delivers little hope and no reassurance."