Pay More, Get Less with 2006 Provincial Budget

With this year’s Provincial Budget, the McGuinty Liberal Government is continuing to break key election promises, says Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott. In the coming year, Ontarians will be paying more and receiving less.

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan presented the 2006 Budget in the Ontario Legislature on March 23rd.

“In their first budget in 2004, the McGuinty Government broke their promise not to raise taxes by introducing the largest tax hike in Ontario ’s history. In their second budget they kicked farmers in the teeth with massive cuts to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. It’s no wonder that farmers were demonstrating at Queen’s Park today,” Mr. Arnott said.

“In this, the third Liberal budget, they have continued to break their promise to balance the books,” he added. “Even if you believe the Liberal line that the cupboard was bare when they were elected, you would have to conclude that after three years in office, this year’s deficit belongs to them.”

Waterloo-Wellington MPP Ted Arnott is a long time advocate for a Provincial debt repayment plan.

“I’ve long argued that in good economic times the Government should pay down more of the Province’s debt,” he said. “The Budget could have and should have been balanced this year.”

“Over the last three years, we have seen the biggest budgetary spending spree since the NDP were in office in the early 1990s. Added together, it’s irresponsible, short-sighted, and ultimately unsustainable,” Mr. Arnott said.

Mr. Arnott hopes to participate in the upcoming Legislative debate on the budget and he will offer a detailed, comprehensive critique of the Budget in the coming days.