Government’s Balanced Plan Invests in Southwestern Ontario

TORONTO – This week, Ernie Hardeman, MPP for Oxford, welcomed the announcements in the government’s Fall Economic Statement which saw further investments in vital services like healthcare and education, while keeping the government’s commitment to balance the budget by 2023-24 and making important investments in public services.

“We believe the role of government is to create opportunity for a better quality of life and a higher standard of living for those in Oxford and throughout Ontario,” said Hardeman. “By putting our plan into action, we are encouraging job creation and economic growth, putting more money in people’s pockets, and investing in the public services that people depend on most.”

“Our government has taken steps to strengthen our finances, our economy and critical public services,” said Minister Phillips. “Solving these challenges has not been about grand gestures, but rather the practical and meaningful actions that help make life easier and more affordable for people, like reducing taxes, investing in health care and education, and building modern transit and roads.”

The government has a balanced plan for every community in our province, with support for Southwestern Ontario, including:

• Addressing regional disparities in economic growth with the new Regional Development Program, which includes the redesigned Eastern Ontario Development Fund and the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund that will provide performance-based loans to eligible small- and medium-sized businesses in Eastern and Southwestern Ontario.
• Developing a Southwestern Ontario Transportation Plan, to help build a better transportation system to keep goods and people moving.
• Helping people and businesses connect and stay safe by investing $63.7 million to expand broadband in Southwestern Ontario.

Minister Phillips also announced that the government is projected to beat its deficit target for 2019-20 by $1.3 billion. While making steady progress to reduce the deficit, it is investing an additional $1.3 billion in critical services. This includes more funding for small- and medium-sized hospitals, public health units, child care and programs to help our most vulnerable. Hardeman pointed to the recent announcement of additional funding for Oxford hospitals as an example.

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Media inquiries please contact:

Ernie Hardeman, MPP Oxford
(519) 537-5222