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Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton said the tax credit will help local families.
“This program will provide funding assistance up to 75 per cent of their eligible child care expenses. This is good news for families across Wellington County,” he said.
Other key spending measures include free dental care for low income seniors and $315 million over five years for a new broadband and cellular strategy for expansion of internet access.
The budget raises overall spending on health care, education and transportation, but numerous ministries will have less to spend this year, including the Ministry of Children and Social Services, the environment ministry and Indigenous affairs.
The budget also contains a proposal which would see Ontario’s 35 public health units consolidated into 10 regional agencies.
Expanding broadband and cellular service in rural and remote areas is among the government’s focus areas, said Pettapiece.
“We will be investing $315 million over the next five years in regional and shovel-ready projects. We understand broadband access is vital for our businesses, hospitals, schools and families,” the MPP stated.
Pettapiece told the Advertiser the broadband funding represents an increase over the amount his party pledged during the 2018 election campaign.
“It’s actually gone up, it was $100 million over the mandate. The federal government has promised money too, so hopefully we can get this going sooner than later,” he stated.
Linton said he is pleased with the announcement of new money for rural broadband.
“I am hoping that some of this funding will flow to Wellington County to help us bring high-speed Internet access to our many rural and under-serviced areas.”
“We are also investing in education,” said Pettapiece. “Over the next three years we are going to increase funding to our schools by $1 billion. This is new funding, and I will work to ensure our rural schools receive their fair share.”
Opposition critics have said the education increase is below inflation and will lead to cuts, and school boards across the province have been issuing layoff notices for the next school year.
“Spending on health care and education fails to keep up with inflation, as the government tries to mask its cuts as modest funding increases,” said Guelph MPP and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner in a Jan. 11 statement.
“According to FAO (Financial Accountability Office) numbers, the proposed spending on health care falls a disastrous $10 billion short of what’s needed,” said Guelph MPP and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner in a Jan. 11 statement.
However Pettapiece dismissed the criticism.
“The dollars are being increased,” he said, calling announced school board layoffs “the normal practice of school boards this time of year until they adjust their numbers in the fall and decide what they need.
“When the critics bring up those numbers they should understand why it’s done. That it’s nothing new.”
Pettapiece added, “Certainly were going to look at adjusting classes sizes, mostly in high school, and introduce internet learning so there are going to be some changes. We feel they are for the better and, in public school for certain, they are really going to start focussing on math and sciences.”
The budget contained a number of measures surrounding alcohol access. The province will allow bars, restaurants and golf courses to start serving alcohol at 9am seven days a week. Currently alcohol sales are prohibited before 11am in such venues.
Municipalities will now be allowed to establish rules about where booze can be consumed in public, including parks. Regulations are also changing to allow “tailgating” parties near sports events. Also, casinos will now be allowed to advertise free alcohol and the province will allow licensed establishments to advertise “happy hour” promotions.
Asked about the focus on alcohol regulation, Pettapiece said, “I don’t know the specifics as to where it came from.”
However, he added, “We do know there was some interest to liberalize, if you want to use that term, the rules on alcohol in the province. They looked around different jurisdictions and saw what they did and decided to go this route. It’s something, I think the people of Ontario are mature enough not to abuse and, as far as municipalities go, it’s up to them whether they want to designate public areas for this type of thing.”
While the announcement concerning “tailgating” stated only that it would be allowed at “eligible venues,” Pettapiece said he expects it will be confined to major centres.
“It’s pretty much for the Toronto area, you know BMO field and that type of thing,” he explained. “I don’t know this for sure, but I don’t see it being a big thing in rural Ontario.”
Schreiner said he feels the numerous liquor-related measures, in a budget that fails to even mention poverty, reflect the government’s priorities.
“Budgets reflect the values and priorities of a government. And with this government, it’s clear what they want to protect is booze, gambling and tailgating,” stated Schreiner. “Ford continues to spend millions of tax dollars sabotaging climate solutions. Meanwhile he’s offering nothing on mental health and housing, but distracting people with an extra hour of drinking.”
Pettapiece said the steady reduction of the deficit is a key measure of the budget.
“I think the way it’s structured and it’s pointing to balance is probably one of the biggest things we can do to help this province,” he said.
“We’re spending about $40 million a day servicing that debt and that’s money that’s not going to other things that we would like to see in the province. But we had to strike a balance. If we went too fast we were going to have to make some severe cuts in some of the areas that we hold dear – and education and health care are two of them.”
In addition, to reducing the annual deficit, the government announced plans to implement an overall debt reduction strategy.
The Fiscal Sustainability, Transparency and Accountability Act, if passed, would require the government to present a debt burden reduction strategy and report on progress annually.
Linton expressed support for the deficit cutting measures, but also said he is concerned about the potential impact on municipalities.
“As a taxpayer, I am pleased to see that the provincial government is working hard to get its finances under control and balance its budget by 2023-24,” he said. “Year over year deficits have produced massive debt levels. This situation is unsustainable, and we cannot simply pass on this financial nightmare to the next generation.”
Linton added the province has already informed Centre Wellington and the county that the province is reviewing all municipal transfer payments, including the Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding (OMPF), which he called “a critical source of funding for Ontario municipalities.”
While pleased the province has maintained the township’s funding level at least for 2019, “I am worried about the impacts of potential future cuts.”
Linton explained “municipalities depend on the province for financial assistance to help us rebuild roads, bridges and other necessary infrastructure assets.”
Linton said he is pleased to see a $3.8 billion investment for mental health, addictions and housing supports over 10 years, a portion of which he hopes “finds its way to Wellington County …”
– With files from Mike Robinson
