Ontario budget passed. No election

NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE
PREMIER OF ONTARIO

*****************************
Budget bill passes - Keeping Ontario on track

McGuinty government moving forward to create jobs, strengthen economy

Ontario is in a strong position to create jobs and grow the economy with the passage of the 2012 Budget.

It takes strong action to eliminate Ontario’s deficit by 2017-18 while protecting health care and education.

This government is working hard to keep Ontario moving forward in many areas including:

Education

• Passing the Accepting Schools Act that makes Ontario’s schools safer and ensures all students have the support they need to grow and reach their full potential.
• Giving 120,000 children the best start possible in full-day kindergarten this fall.
• Protecting 20,000 teaching and support jobs by ensuring smaller class sizes and the full introduction of full-day kindergarten.
• Providing 30 percent off Ontario tuition to qualifying college and university students.

Health care

• Creating over 900 nursing positions to improve front-line care, ensuring patients get the right care where and when they need it.
• Continuing to open Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics - 24 currently accepting patients.
• Helping 90,000 more seniors by adding three million more hours of personal support worker care.
• Planning to create two birthing centres to give women more choice on where they can deliver healthy babies.

Economy

• Passing the Residential Tenancies Amendment Act to cap the maximum amount most landlords can increase a tenant’s rent during the year to 2.5 percent, starting in 2013.
• Helping seniors stay in their homes longer with the proposed Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit, thereby keeping long-term care home costs down and helping create jobs and grow the economy.
• Promoting regional strengths and helping promote local economic development through the Attracting Investment and Creating Jobs Act. It would, if passed, create the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund and make the Eastern Ontario Development Fund permanent.
• Creating the Jobs and Prosperity Council to generate new ideas and approaches in improving Ontario's long-term productivity and competitiveness.
• Providing the right climate to attract investment is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to create a vibrant economy. A strong economy creates jobs for Ontarians and protects the services that matter most to Ontario families - health care and education.

Quotes

“Our Budget is the best way forward - making the right choices we need to grow Ontario’s economy and protect the gains we’ve made.” - Dalton McGuinty, premier of Ontario

Quick facts

• The Accepting Schools Act clearly lays out protections and supports for all students and makes clear that homophobic bullying is not okay.
• The Residential Tenancies Amendment Act means tenants will benefit from more predictable and stable rents.
• Ontario’s economy is projected to grow at 1.7 percent in 2012, 2.2 per cent in 2013 and 2.4 per cent in 2014.
• In 2011, full-time employment increased by 123,400 jobs in Ontario.

Learn more

Read the 2012 Ontario Budget.

Read highlights of the 2012 Ontario Budget.

*****************************