Ontario budget: Ford government to dish out $214B in record-setting spending

The Ford government tabled the most expensive budget in Ontario’s history on Tuesday, with a $214.5-billion spending package that runs a deeper-than-expected deficit this year amid economic uncertainty ahead.

The annual financial blueprint includes a few new programs, laying out Ontairo’s potentially tough economic future. The plan sees economic growth grind to a near-stop in the province and deficits continue until the eve of the next election.

The handful of new announcements in the plan include a new medical school in Vaughan to train family doctors, half a billion dollars to connect people with primary care and four new helicopters for Ontario police forces.

Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the deficits projected would be “temporary,” promising the results of his government’s spending would not be.

“In the face of global economic uncertainty and high interest rates that continue to put pressure on Ontario families, our government is taking a responsible approach by investing to rebuild Ontario’s economy without raising taxes,” Bethlenfalvy said.

“As we invest in key public services and infrastructure, including new roads, highways and the largest public transit expansion in North America, we refuse to offload the costs onto hardworking Ontario families or municipalities at a time when they’re counting on us to keep costs down.”

Marit Stiles, Ontario NDP Leader, said in a statement that the budget was an “uninspired statement” from a government she said is “out of touch and out of ideas.”

“If you’re looking for change, Ford’s budget is not for you,” said Stiles.

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called the budget “uninspired” and “unambitious,” saying it did “little for families struggling” in the