2011 Ontario Budget Has the Bull’s-Eye on Eliminating the Deficit While Protecting Education and Health Care

Today the 2011 Ontario Budget is unveiled to Ontarians.

This Ontario Budget has the bull’s-eye on eliminating the deficit while protecting education and health care.

The deficit for 2010–11 is projected to be  $16.7 billion which is $3 billion lower than forecast a year ago because, for the most part, the projected program expense for 2010-2011 is $2.6 billion lower than the forecast published in the 2010 Budget.

The new  measures of the 2011 Ontario Budget directly affecting the public include:

• New business partnerships will create and retain nearly 10,000 jobs in Ontario

• Farmers (of cattle, hog, sheep and veal) will get a new Risk Management Program, and the edible horticulture sector gets a Self-Directed Risk Management Program

• By 2015-16 there will be more than 60,000 new student spaces in Ontario’s colleges and universities

• Full-day kindergarten will be available in an additional 200 schools this September; and in every school in September 2014

• About 90,000 additional breast cancer screening exams to help reach more women who are at high risk

• A comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, starting with children and youth

• Expanding pharmacy services and support for people covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program — helping seniors and others with things like prescription follow-up consultations

Also,  the budgetary measures for responsible government management that will help realize savings of nearly $1.5 billion over the next three fiscal years include:

• Determining whether the current ServiceOntario delivery model provides the best value and service to people

• Instructing major agencies to deliver efficiencies of $200 million by 2013–14

• Reducing funding permanently for executive offices of specific transfer payment recipients by 10 per cent over two years. This policy will also be put in place for major government agencies

• Reducing the size of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) by an additional 1,500 positions between April 2012 and March 2014. This is in addition to the reduction of about 3,400 full-time OPS employees announced in the 2009 Budget

• Making the jail system more modern and efficient. Efficiencies will be gained by closing underutilized prisons in Owen Sound, Walkerton and Sarnia, and partially closing Toronto West Detention Centre. Inmates will be transferred to new, larger, more efficient facilities

• Cancelling construction of the Toronto West Courthouse, resulting in appropriation savings of $181 million over the next three years

• Establishing the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, chaired by respected economist Don Drummond, which will provide advice on reforms that would help accelerate the government’s plan to eliminate the deficit while protecting education and health care.

Will this 2011 Ontario Budget be effective in eliminating the deficit as well as  strengthening the economy, promoting job creation and protecting key public services?

We would love to receive your comments below this blog.

Read the 2011 Ontario Budget.

Read background information on the 2011 Ontario Budget:

• Ontario’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Plan
• Managing Responsibly
• Strong Education and Health Care Support a Strong Economy

Read highlights of the 2011 Ontario Budget:

• Turning the Corner to a Better Tomorrow
• Children’s Mental Health
• Helping Ontario Farmers

Ontario, Canada: Newsroom

News Release

Ontario Economy is Turning the Corner, Creating Jobs

McGuinty Government Reduces Deficit While Protecting Schools and Hospitals

The 2011 Ontario Budget continues the McGuinty government’s support of Ontario’s economic recovery. The budget renews the focus on eliminating the deficit while protecting education and health care

The deficit for 2010–11 is projected to be $16.7 billion — $3 billion lower than forecast a year ago. This is largely due to the fact that program expense for 2010–11 is projected to be $2.6 billion lower than the forecast published in the 2010 Budget.

The 2011 Budget’s strategic investments include:

Jobs and Growth

• New partnerships with the private sector will create and retain nearly 10,000 jobs in Ontario
• Helping cattle, hog, sheep and veal farmers by implementing a new Risk Management Program, and a Self-Directed Risk Management Program for the edible horticulture sector

Protecting Education

• More than 60,000 new student spaces in Ontario’s colleges and universities by 2015–16. There will be room for every qualified Ontario student
• This September, full-day kindergarten will be available in an additional 200 schools, benefiting up to 50,000 children. Currently, nearly 600 schools offer full-day kindergarten for up to 35,000 children. It will be fully implemented, available in every school, in September 2014

Protecting Health Care

• About 90,000 additional breast cancer screening exams to help reach more women who are at high risk
• A comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, starting with children and youth
• Expanding pharmacy services and support for people covered under the Ontario Drug Benefit Program — helping seniors and others with things like prescription follow-up consultations

Managing Responsibly

To help eliminate the deficit without threatening economic growth or the gains Ontarians have made in education and health care, the government must further reform the way it does business. Recent initiatives and those announced in this budget would help realize savings of nearly $1.5 billion over the next three fiscal years. There are several new measures that would make public services more affordable and effective for Ontario families, including:

• Determining whether the current ServiceOntario delivery model provides the best value and service to people
• Instructing major agencies to deliver efficiencies of $200 million by 2013–14
• Reducing funding permanently for executive offices of specific transfer payment recipients by 10 per cent over two years. This policy will also be put in place for major government agencies
• Reducing the size of the Ontario Public Service (OPS) by an additional 1,500 positions between April 2012 and March 2014. This is in addition to the reduction of about 3,400 full-time OPS employees announced in the 2009 Budget
• Making the jail system more modern and efficient. Efficiencies will be gained by closing underutilized prisons in Owen Sound, Walkerton and Sarnia, and partially closing Toronto West Detention Centre. Inmates will be transferred to new, larger, more efficient facilities
• Cancelling construction of the Toronto West Courthouse, resulting in appropriation savings of $181 million over the next three years
• Establishing the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services, chaired by respected economist Don Drummond, which will provide advice on reforms that would help accelerate the government’s plan to eliminate the deficit while protecting education and health care.

The 2011 Budget builds on the McGuinty government’s Open Ontario plan to strengthen the economy, promote job creation and protect key public services.

Quotes

“Two years after the worst global recession most of us have ever known, the Ontario economy is turning the corner and jobs are coming back. A well-educated and healthy workforce strengthens Ontario’s economy and attracts investment and jobs.”
— Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance

“We have a responsible plan to eliminate the deficit while protecting schools, hospitals and economic growth. This requires even more reform in the way government works to ensure we get better value for money. The alternative — across-the-board program cuts — would reverse the significant gains Ontarians have achieved in health care and education, and would undermine the province’s economic competitiveness. ”
— Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance

LEARN MORE

Read the 2011 Ontario Budget.

Read background information on the 2011 Ontario Budget:

• Ontario’s Economic Outlook and Fiscal Plan
• Managing Responsibly
• Strong Education and Health Care Support a Strong Economy

Read highlights of the 2011 Ontario Budget:

• Turning the Corner to a Better Tomorrow
• Children’s Mental Health
• Helping Ontario Farmers

Learn more about the government’s Open Ontario plan.

For public inquiries call 1-800-337-7222
(Toll-free in Ontario only)