Better provincial services among McGuinty's priorities

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OFFICE OF THE PREMIER

************************* McGuinty government outlines principles to keep Ontario moving forward

Ontario is moving forward for a stronger, more competitive economy that protects and creates jobs for families.

The Honourable David C. Onley, Ontario's Lieutenant Governor, delivered the government's Speech from the Throne in the legislature today.

The speech focused on the government's plan to help create jobs, strengthen the economy and protect the gains Ontarians have made in our schools and hospitals.

Highlights include:

• Reducing college and university tuition by 30 percent for families earning less than $160,000 per year and selecting three new sites for undergraduate campuses to build a more competitive workforce

• Introducing the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit to help seniors live independently longer and create thousands of jobs in the home renovation sector

• Increasing home care services for seniors to take pressure off hospitals and long-term care homes, saving taxpayers money.

• Adding two-way, all-day GO train service to keep people moving in the GTA and Greater Golden Horseshoe and create 68,000 new jobs.

• Reaffirming the goal to return the province's budget back to balance by 2017-18.

Slower growth in the global economy means the government will look for ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively.

Proposals will come from several areas, including the report from the Commission on the Reform of Public Services, chaired by economist Don Drummond, in the coming months.

And all members of the legislature were encouraged to bring their ideas forward.

The speech outlined five key principles that will guide Ontario's plan to create jobs, move the economy forward and protect services:

• Health care and education are the most important public services for Ontario families - any reforms will not compromise on quality

• Across-the-board reductions will be rejected to avoid deep cuts to health care and education

• Any reforms must help the province get better value for money through improved efficiencies and greater productivity

• Increases in taxes or the privatization of public health care will not be considered.

• Austerity measures that harm the economy will not be pursued.

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