Conclusion of Orazietti's take on the provincial budget

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"Our plan will make public education the best education. It will help our students achieve their true potential - and that is the most important thing we can do to ensure Ontario reaches its full potential," said Orazietti MPP. The Budget also highlighted several key initiatives for municipalities, including delivering on the commitment to make two cents of the existing provincial gas tax available for public transit over three years, increasing the share of public health costs covered by the Province from 50 per cent to 75 per cent by 2007, and investing in improvements to highways, affordable housing and water quality.

In addition, the McGuinty government announced an additional $25 million for children's mental health programs for 2004-05, growing to $38 million in 2005-06; an additional 4,000 subsidized child care spaces as part of a child care investment of $58 million in 2004-05; for the first time in 11 years, a three-per-cent increase in basic needs allowance and maximum shelter allowance for recipients of social assistance under the Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works: and the Ontario Property Tax Credit for Seniors will be increased by $125.

The government's plan was inspired by the thousands of Ontarians who took part in the most extensive pre-budget consultations ever conducted, David Orazietti said, "the Ontarians who participated in the consultation also stressed the importance of a gradual approach to balancing the budget, in order to preserve vital public services."

"In order to stabilize our fiscal situation and invest in health care and education, we have made two important choices—to increase revenues and to balance the budget over four years," Orazietti said.

"It is simply not possible to deliver a balanced budget this year without destabilizing vital public services and the economy itself."

The Minister of Finance said that the additional revenues needed to transform health care are planned to be provided through a proposed income-based Ontario Health Premium.

"While we are asking the people of Ontario to pay more, we are guaranteeing that the revenues from the Ontario Health Premium would be invested exclusively in the delivery of health services over the course of our four-year plan," Finance Minister Sorbara said.

"These investments would produce concrete results, including shorter wait times, more doctors and nurses, and enhanced home care and long-term care."

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