The provincial government released the 2021 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: Build Ontario, which focused heavily on pandemic recovery.
This includes plans to build a better healthcare and long-term care system. Beginning in 2021-22, $342-million will be invested to add 5,000 upskilled registered nurses and registered practical nurses as well as 8,000 personal support workers. Also in the budget is funding towards rapid access to mental health and addictions supports.
The plan also has a strong focus on funding for critical minerals, automotive manufacturing and other industries.
“In order to attract more investments for these investments, we need skilled workers, and that requires us to expand training and encourage more young people to pursue rewarding, well paying jobs in the skilled trades,” says Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy. “Keeping these skilled workers requires us to invest in communities with better health care and stronger local infrastructure.”
Ontario’s Conservatives are projecting a $21.5-billion deficit for 2021-22. They are currently expecting gradual improvements in the deficit over the next few years, predicting a drop to $12.9-billion in 2023–24.
Attention then turned to the Ring of Fire, Bethlenfalvy stressing this plan will unlock mineral mining in Northern Ontario.
“It is also finally time to say yes to making real investments in the north starting with the Ring of Fire,” explains Bethlenfalvy. “The Ring of Fire is one of the most important mineral deposits in all of Canada. It can be a vital source of economic development for communities across the north, and especially for First Nation communities. An investment in the Ring of Fire is an investment in northern prosperity for the people of Ontario, and for all Canadians. It is time to get the road to the Ring of Fire built.”
The plan says that the Ontario government is willing to invest $1-billion to get the job done. Bethlenfalvy mentions that he hopes the federal government will assist in the project, and that other parties in Ontario stop “holding back” the Ring of Fire.
The release of the plan was followed by a response from NDP MPP Catherine Fife.
“This budget showed Ontarians that this PC Government doesn’t want to spend the money on the healthcare and education that Ontarians deserve,” says Fife. “We know countless examples of missed opportunities and warped priorities. Imagine going through the pandemic and deciding to come out on the other side and not invest in the services that people rely on to stay healthy or reach their potential in the province. That means school repair backlogs are going to keep going on. Drafty classrooms, mold in schools, crumbling ceilings that are not getting repaired.”
In a release from the Ontario government, it was mentioned that given the uncertainty of the pandemic, they would continue to maintain flexibility to deploy resources to support further recovery through the COVID-19 Time-Limited Funding.
