The Ontario government’s fall fiscal update boosts spending by 1.3-billion dollars.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says it includes a commitment to move Ontario Northland from Northern Development and Mines to Transportation.

“This will allow the province to centralize all of the ministerial oversight and to continue the mandate to deliver transportation. This will create opportunities and improve service and this is what all the men and women who work at Ontario Northland want,” he says.

The fiscal update includes a 279-million-dollar increase for autism, and an extra 310-million for social services, including a child benefit the province had planned to stop.
The deficit is now forecast at nine-billion for this fiscal year, down from the 10.3-billion projected in the budget.
Fedeli says they were able to increase spending and reduce the deficit because of the improved economy and a couple of big increases stand out.

“We’re adding $1.9 billion more to health this year and $1.2 billion more to education. These are real big pluses,” he says.

Fedeli says they’re reducing the aviation fuel tax in the north from 6.7 to 2.7 cents a litre and the small business tax rate will be reduced by 8.7 % in Ontario and that will save 275,000 small businesses $1,500 a year each.

(with files from Canadian Press)

(photo taken by station staff)

Filed under: fiscal update, MPP Vic Fedeli