Mixed reaction from northwestern Ontario three MPP on the PCs first provincial budget.
Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford is praising the fiscal document.
Rickford says they are reducing the burden of government on people.
“There’s no increase in taxes. Lifting anticipated fee cost for things like driver’s licenses and just kind of getting out of the way and letting folks,” says Rickford.
Rickford says for northwestern Ontario says there will be targeted investments in infrastructure and a new forest strategy focusing on wood supply.
The opposition is expressing its concerns.
Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle points to the many cuts to ministries, especially those important to northwestern Ontario.
“The budget for the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines has been cut by about $250 million. The budget for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has been cut by $109 million and the budget for the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs has been cut in half. All of these cuts are a concern,” says Gravelle.
The Liberal MPP adds there wasn’t much substance to some of the PC announcements.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Judith Monteith-Farrell also points to some of the budget cuts, suggesting there will be less money for education.
“Funding for schools is going to be less than the rate of inflation so that means really a cut in services and programming for our schools. Our universities and colleges are also facing serious deep cuts,” says Monteith-Farrell.
