Growth and Fiscal Responsibility

· Growth in the economy and in jobs remains the government's top priority. Sustained growth is essential to protect the gains that have been made and ensure prosperity into the future. Barriers to jobs, investment and growth will continue to be removed.

· The government will honour its pledge to cut taxes to create even more jobs.

· A new business impact test will be applied to all proposed regulations that might impair our ability to attract investment and jobs. A new task force will measure and monitor Ontario's productivity, competitiveness and economic progress compared to other provinces and the U.S.

· A plan to pay down the province's accumulated debt will be outlined in the budget on May 9.

Accountability Across the Entire Public Sector

· Sweeping reforms will ensure that all public sector institutions are accountable to Ontario citizens.

· Proposed amendments to the Audit Act would empower the Provincial Auditor to ensure that institutions funded by Ontario taxpayers spend that money prudently, effectively and as intended.

Smaller, More Efficient Government

· The government will sell businesses it should not operate and assets it should not own.

· Legislation will be proposed that would require “sunset clauses” for all new government programs.

Preparing for the New Economy by Protecting Consumers

· The government will introduce broad privacy legislation that, if passed, would protect individuals and propel Ontario to the forefront of the information economy.

· The government will introduce modern consumer protection laws that will, if passed, make Ontario a trusted destination for e-commerce.

The Best Start in Life—Flexibility and Choice in Education

· The government will establish a system of local “early years” centres, accessible to all families.

· Legislation will be introduced that would allow parents to enrol their children in any available school within their system.

· Ministry of Education textbook lists will be replaced by guidelines that will permit local flexibility. For example, principals may choose to use phonics texts to teach reading.

Improving Health Services and Leading on Health Care Reform

· Health care spending will increase for the sixth consecutive year.

· The government will quickly assemble patients, nurses, doctors, hospital administrators and others to seek consensus on the best way to allocate the billions spent annually on health care.

· Fundamental reform is necessary to preserve Canada's health care system. The Ontario government believes strongly that the federal commission into health care must be free to consider all aspects of the system, and explore all possible solutions to the sustainability challenge, so that the solutions will be real and lasting.

Parliamentary Reform

· The government will propose that more issues, particularly those requiring in-depth examination and considered recommendations, be referred to legislative committees.