Opposition slams Ontario's fall economic statement, while industry groups offer praise
Mini budget step in the right direction as province tries to balance books, taxpayer federation says
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As the Doug Ford Conservatives gleefully presented their fall economic statement on Wednesday, Ontario’s opposition parties said the plan doesn’t go far enough to make life better for families.
Speaking in the legislature after Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy revealed details of the statement, NDP MP Catherine Fife said the statement delivered nothing but disappointment.
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“For families that are truly in pain, literally waiting for medication and home care or the anguish of not having mental-health supports for your child or your parent, did this mini-budget address this crisis? It did not,” she said.
Fife also described Ontario as a “have-not” province for receiving $576 million in federal equalization payments for the 2024-25 fiscal year.
The Ontario Liberals gave the statement a resounding thumbs down.
“Doug Ford is more focused on billion-dollar giveaways to wealthy insiders than he is on fixing health care,” said Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie in a news release.
“People are dying on wait lists and Doug Ford is spending billions on booze, foreign spas and the Greenbelt scandal.”
Green Leader Mike Schreiner accused Queen’s Park of abandoning Ontarians.
“Costs are up, homes aren’t getting built, climate change is worse and our health-care system is failing those of us who need it most,” he said in a statement.
“All the things that we should be able to expect from provincial governments — to keep our neighbours housed, to make sure homes get built, that doctors are available, mental health is accessible — the premier has walked away from.”
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Outside of Queen’s Park, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation applauded the statement, particularly the government’s attempt to balance the province’s books.
“The Ford government’s fall economic update is projecting that deficits this year and next will collectively be $6.3 billion lower than what the government projected in its spring budget,” said Ontario director Jay Goldberg, adding that borrowing less money means lower interest costs for future taxpayers.
“But with revenues going up, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy should move up his balanced budget timetable from 2026 to 2025.”
The statement received a resounding endorsement from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, which commended the six-month extension of provincial gas tax cuts.
“The government’s continued focus on record infrastructure spending highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive provincial construction mitigation program that includes direct compensation to small businesses for lengthy, disruptive builds,” said a statement from the CFIB.
“While everyone loves a finished project, small businesses must first survive the construction process before they can benefit.”
The Toronto Region Board of Trade praised the expansion of the Invest Ontario Fund, infrastructure funding and other measures meant to bolster the manufacturing industry, while Restaurants Canada praised the $200 rebate cheques as a means to put money back into the pockets of Ontarians.
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