The Harper government inherited one of the most prosperous economic and
fiscal situations imaginable - a thriving economy, the lowest
unemployment in over 30 years, and a windfall of $10 billion more in
federal coffers than the $45 billion projected in November.
Government finance
Look through the smokescreen created by Premier Dalton McGuinty's $23 billion gap campaign and you see a provincial government that is in denial; one that has not been prepared to tackle the fundamental problems for which his government inherited responsibility when it took office.
If you only read the headlines, the record looks promising. The McGuinty government has increased funding significantly for health and education — two of its major priorities. But even that has not bought the real change that Ontario needs.
OTTAWA—A new analysis finds that high-income families will receive a disproportionate share of the benefits from the Conservatives’ tax-cut promises.
According to Standing Up For Which Families? Who Benefits From the Conservative Tax Cut Promises, by Sheila Block and Ellen Russell, the 5.4% of families earning over $150,000 a year will receive 27.9% of the benefits from the Conservatives’ tax cuts modelled in the report—an average of over $2,010.
TORONTO— According to an Ontario Alternative Budget technical paper released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the McGuinty government’s current fiscal plan would result in program spending dropping to levels lower than it was when they took power.
Despite funding increases in key areas, the McGuinty government has done little to reverse the cuts to government services imposed under the Harris/Eves regime.
TORONTO—Despite all of Dalton McGuinty’s talk about taking politics out of budgets, the McGuinty government’s announcement to bring down its budget on March 23—a full two months earlier than last year’s and a month ahead of the normal budget schedule—is the most politically transparent move in recent history, says an Ontario Alternative Budget Technical Paper released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.