Northhumberland Today
Ontario is moving forward with its plan to build opportunity and security for today and tomorrow. The 2014 Ontario Budget, tabled today by Minister of Finance Charles Sousa, takes immediate action to create jobs by investing in a highly skilled workforce, building modern infrastructure and transportation networks, and supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate.
The Budget also takes steps to build the retirement security workers deserve, an initiative that supports long-term economic growth. The government will continue managing spending responsibly and eliminate the deficit by 2017-18. As laid out in Budget 2014, to achieve its fiscal targets while creating more opportunity and more security for people in every region, the government will manage spending carefully while making strategic investments that build on the competitive advantages of Ontario's people and businesses.
Despite a challenging global economic environment, Ontario continues to attract investments that are creating jobs, growing the economy, and expanding opportunity for workers today and tomorrow. Ontario's talented workforce is its greatest asset in attracting investment and sustaining economic growth. The Budget builds on the strength of Ontario's people by:
- Completing the rollout of Full-Day Kindergarten this fall and investing in child care modernization and stabilization, so that every child in Ontario has the best possible start in life.
- Investing in classroom technology to ensure that young learners are equipped to lead in the 21st century economy.
- Providing the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant to make sure up to 260,000 young people can afford to get the degree or diploma that will lead to more opportunity. Providing support for wage increases for homecare workers in the publicly-funded home and community care sector, and front-line child care workers.
- Increasing the Ontario Child Benefit by proposing to index it to inflation to help children reach their full potential.