Thursday, March 28, 2024

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Wynne government promising lower child care costs & shorter hospital wait times in throne speech

First Published:

With the provincial election months away, the Liberal government prorogued the legislature to map out their priorities if they were to be reelected with a throne speech. But the opposition were calling the Liberals out for abusing their power ahead of the June 7 provincial election.

“It’s obvious, it’s Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals making a last stitch attempt here to hold onto their political skin but people aren’t buying it.” Andrea Horwath, NDP leader.

The platform includes reducing hospital wait times, expanding OHIP, increasing availability for home health care, more support for people with mental health diseases and tackling the cost of childcare, the highest in the country.

Achieving this won’t be cheap. The new spending will have the government run a $8 billion deficit. In defense of the spending, the Finance Minister says the budget is a living document that always fluctuates.

“I have been taking the steps necessary to manage our finances responsibly but the people of Ontario are also asking us to manage their supports and their cost of living and we’re doing that. We’re trying to do that without increasing taxes to enable us to enhance government services to provide more services to the people of Ontario.”

Services some say the Liberals should have done years ago.

“The Ontario Progressive Conservative caucus has been calling for additional mental health funding as long as I can remember, it’s amazing that the Liberal government after 15 years in office has just figured it out.” Lisa, Macleod, PC MPP.

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