Local opposition to Liberal government’s provincial budget
Posted Apr 27, 2017 07:56:53 PM.
Last Updated Apr 28, 2017 05:29:02 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Liberal government’s provincial budget has been released, but not everyone is pleased with the Finance Minister’s new fiscal plan.
The $141-billion budget is the Liberals first balanced budget in a decade, and includes new measures aimed at students, seniors, parents, and homeowners.
Kitchener Conestoga MPP Michael Harris is speaking out however, and says the budget is not as balanced as the Wynne government claims.
“This budget is proof that Ontario families will continue to pay more, and get less. The government is hiding over $5-billion in operational deficits through cash-grabs, and have really no plan to get debt under control. We have now surpassed $300-billion with $1-billion a month in interest, and there’s no sign that we are planning to tackle the debt whatsoever.”
Harris adds that he was also disheartened to hear no mention of Waterloo Region in the Finance Minister’s budget speech on Thursday.
“I looked in the budget and all I saw was a rehashed announcement for the province’s contribution towards our LRT. There were also little to no details on an important infrastructure investment in two-way all-day GO, and just a slight mention of high speed rail,” said Harris. “There were not a lot of details and more aspirational goals in nature from this government when speaking to Waterloo Region residents.”
PC Leader Patrick Brown has also spoken out against the budget, and even accused the Wynne Liberals of ‘cooking the books’.
Meantime, some measures outlined in Thursday’s budget are expected to directly benefit Waterloo Region– including investments towards our highways, a new school, and upgrades to the Hespeler Wastewater Treatment Plant.
