Hardeman Reacts to Budget

Monday, 14 July 2014 at 18:57

Oxford County PC MPP Ernie Hardeman is 'very disappointed' with the Liberal government's budget

WOODSTOCK – Oxford County Progressive Conservative MPP Ernie Hardeman is reacting with disappointment to the Ontario Liberal government's 2014 budget, tabled Monday afternoon.

It's unchanged from the budget the then-minority government announced May 1, which triggered the June 12 election that handed the Wynne Liberals a majority.

Hardeman hoped Finance Minister Charles Sousa would have made changes.

"I would have thought that when the bond rating agencies went from stable to negative in their forecast for [Ontario's] credit rating, I would have hoped that [Sousa] would have had another look at it to see what he could do about reducing the spending or at the very least reducing the deficit," he said.

Hardeman said Sousa must, "clarify to the bond rating agencies in a very short order where he is going to find the savings that he's been talking about in order to balance the budget by 2017–18. If he doesn't do that, then [the bond rating agencies] are going to be looking at down-grading us one more time," Hardeman said.

"That will increase dramatically the amount of interest we pay on the debt," he said. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation's Ontario debt clock, the province currently carries more than $272 billion in debt.

The big-spending budget is sure to be appreciated by Ontarians in the places of the province where the spending will occur, Hardeman said. However, "in the big picture, will it be good for Oxford and will it be good for the people of Oxford? I'd have to say the answer is no."

"Everyone realizes that at some point you have to pay the bills. You can't keep spending and just keep borrowing money to do that," Hardeman said.

In a media release, Finance Minister Charles Sousa is quoted with saying:

"Our Budget delivers a plan for a brighter, stronger future for Ontarians. It creates greater opportunity and security for people everywhere around the province. Ontarians entrusted us and our plan and today we begin to move forward. We will invest in the education and skills training necessary for new growth. We will build public transit to reduce congestion and connect communities with new roads and highways. We will partner with businesses to create well-paying meaningful jobs, and provide even greater financial security for future retirees. Underlying this plan is our unwavering commitment to balance the budget by 2017–18."