Back on the opposition benches on budget day for the first time in 15 years, veteran Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle has more questions than answers about the Ford government's first financial blueprint.
The Progressive Conservative government on Thursday released the first budget of their mandate, which is projected to run a $10.3 billion deficit with Ontario's books not returning to balance for five years.
Gravelle, reached at Queen's Park about an hour after the provincial spending plan was tabled, said the budget was long on rhetoric but short on details.
"There certainly weren't a lot of the details I was looking for, particularly related to Northern Ontario," Gravelle said.
"No specific reference to the Northern Highways Program and the financial allotment to that for this coming fiscal year, nor for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation nor for that matter the Ring of Fire and any allotment they may be putting into capital infrastructure in that regard."
While the fiscal framework includes new programs like a child care rebate program and free dental care for low income seniors with funding increases to health and education, a number of other ministries are facing sharp cuts, including Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Forestry and Natural Resources and Indigenous Affairs, with the latter's base budget slashed in half.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan NDP MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell, the party's natural resources and forestry critic, wasn't surprised by the slashing but said it's disheartening nevertheless.
"I believe the Ford government and this premier are very Toronto focused and his obsession with Toronto is outrageous," Monteith-Farrell said.
While there was no dollar figure attached, the Ring of Fire was mentioned in the budget, merely with a promise that the government "is working to to cut red tape and end the delays that block the development of the Ring of Fire area by working with willing partners to ensure sustainable development in the North."
Gravelle said he was disappointed with the lack of financial commitment for infrastructure for the potentially lucrative far north mining development, as the Liberals had for a number of years in the form of a $1-billion pledge.
"I'm going to be pushing pretty hard on that one because it's one of the areas we're most interested in seeing progress," Gravelle said. "There hasn't been a lot to report since this government was put in place."
Both Gravelle and Monteith-Farrell expressed disappointment in the $1-billion cut to the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, as well as making up to 60 per cent of funding for colleges and universities contingent upon performance outcomes.
"It's very shocking this Ford government is wanting to balance this budget on the backs of children, vulnerable people, students, attacking colleges and universities and us who live in rural and Northern Ontario," Monteith-Farrell said. "They say we're the economic driver and like to crow about that all of the time but it doesn't seem that it matters."
Gravelle did find some positives in the budget, such as the introduction of a business incentive program in the place of a corporate tax cut and an expansion to the Northern Ontario Internship Program that removes the requirement for participants to be recent post-secondary graduates.
Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce president Charla Robinson pointed to changes to the Ontario immigration nominee program as an exciting piece.
"That's something our chamber specifically has been asking for, for a number of years to address specific shortages we're having in our community," Robinson said. "Things like truck drivers and personal support workers. The province has agreed and has indicated they're going to move in the direction to broaden out the requirements to allow those jobs to be considered to help us to attract immigrants to places like Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario."
Despite the promised increased education funding, Lakehead Elementary Teachers of Ontario president Mike Judge is taking a wait and see approach.
"I'm very skeptical, based on the way that information has rolled out from this government when they're taking in generalities and cash infusions, which is contradicting everything they've said to this point and it's difficult to read as to what this budget will mean until we see the specifics," Judge said.
"It's very clear there's a significant lack of respect for education in general and education workers. Our teachers are really, really upset about some of the announcements up to this point, especially when they talk about consultation and I couldn't tell you a single teacher in the north who has been part of any consultation."
