Ontario Arts Council has received an in-year funding cut of $5M.  The operating budget for the funder will now be approx $64M.  Similarly the Ontario Trillium Foundation was cut $15M and the Indigenous Culture Fund was cut by $2.5M.  There is no confirmation of base funding for these organizations for the 2019/20 fiscal year.

Ontario’s Finance Minister Vic Fedeli delivered his first Fall Economic Statement at Queen’s Park this afternoon. Decked out in his signature yellow tie, Minister Fedeli touted his government’s commitment to increasing affordability, reducing red tape and returning to a balanced budget through modest spending on a reasonable timeline.
The statement reiterated a number of the government’s previously announced initiatives as well as a series of new policy measures. Of particular interest to media this afternoon is the government’s new deficit projection of $14.5 billion and the elimination of three key independent officers – Ontario’s Environmental Commissioner, the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth and the French Language Services Commissioner of Ontario.
 
Additional highlights of the statement include:

  • Income tax cuts for those earning an annual salary of $30,000 or less;

  • Increased hours of operation for the LCBO;

  • The end of rent controls for new units. Rent controls will continue to exist for current tenants;

  • A review of transit agency Metrolinx to ensure it remains efficient, relevant and effective;

  • The announcement of an upcoming housing supply action plan to address barriers preventing the creation of rental housing;

  • Measures to increase natural gas distribution and broadband to rural communities;

  • Moving forward with the development of the Ring of Fire;

  • Unilaterally relinquishing the provincial veto for pipeline construction in Ontario;

  • Increasing the threshold percentage of seats required to achieve “recognized party” status to 10 per cent (12 of the 124 seats in the Legislative Assembly);

  • Delaying the implementation of the Pay Transparency Act indefinitely;

  • Repealing the Green Energy Act; and

  • The cancellation of the provincial cap-and-trade carbon tax.

The PCs will be convening this weekend at their annual general meeting in Mississauga, where the Premier and Finance Minister are likely to set out the government’s next steps to the party faithful – the first gathering since the party won government in June.