Ontario’s Minister of Finance, Charles Souza delivered the provincial government’s 2015 budget at Queen’s Park yesterday. Citing the Wynne majority government’s intent to build a strong and prosperous future, Souza presented a budget with four major streams – creating jobs and growth, building modern infrastructures, investing in talents and skills, and supporting innovative and dynamic business development. This translates into big spending on infrastructure, transit etc., offset by the sales of assets such as under-used school facilities and a percentage of Hydro One, plus overall cuts of 5.5 per cent to spending on other services except justice and children and youth services. No public service jobs will be eliminated. Projecting a deficit of $8.5 billion in 2015-16, Souza predicted a return to a balanced budget in 2017-18.
Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport saw his budget reduced from $1.424 million in 2012/13 to $1.274 million in 2015/16. Within that budget, staff assured us that the Ontario Arts Council allocation will not be cut. Similarly, the Ontario Trillium Foundation saw its base funding unchanged, although that body had received a decrease in the previous budget.
Investments in Tourism and Culture include the 400th Anniversary of the Francophone Presence in Ontario, 150th Anniversary of Confederation, an additional $905 million (approx) for the Pan/Parapan American Games, continuation of the Ontario Music Fund, as well as towards the Interactive Digital Media Fund.
Apprenticeship programs is an area where the government is making some strategic investments and the Youth Employment Program with be renewed with a further stipend for equipment.