Ontario’s Speech from the Throne focuses on Jobs, Economy

Reducing college and university tuition by 30 per cent for families earning less than $160,000 per year and selecting three new sites for undergraduate campuses to build a more competitive workforce.

Introducing the Healthy Homes Renovation Tax Credit to help seniors live independently longer and create thousands of jobs in the home renovation sector.

Increasing home care services for seniors to take pressure off hospitals and long-term care homes, saving taxpayers money.

Adding two-way, all-day GO train service to keep people moving in the GTA and Greater Golden Horseshoe and create 68,000 new jobs.

Reaffirming the goal to return the province’s budget back to balance by 2017-18.

Slower growth in the global economy means the government will look for ways to deliver services more efficiently and effectively. Proposals will come from several areas, including the report from the Commission on the Reform of Public Services, chaired by economist Don Drummond, in the coming months. And all members of the legislature were encouraged to bring their ideas forward.

The speech outlined five key principles that will guide Ontario’s plan to create jobs, move the economy forward and protect services:

Health care and education are the most important public services for Ontario families - any reforms will not compromise on quality.

Across-the-board reductions will be rejected to avoid deep cuts to health care and education.

Any reforms must help the province get better value for money through improved efficiencies and greater productivity.

Increases in taxes or the privatization of public health care will not be considered.

Austerity measures that harm the economy will not be pursued.

“As the world economy enters a period of slower growth, our number one priority is to build a strong economy that creates good jobs and supports the services our families need. Working together, we’ll tackle the challenges ahead by building on our advantages and seizing new opportunities that make Ontario a leader in the new economy,” said Dalton McGuinty, Premier of Ontario

QUICK FACTS

Taxes on business investment have been cut in half since 2009. This and other tax changes are making Ontario more competitive and are encouraging business growth.

The Financial Times of London named Ontario a top destination for foreign investment in North America in 2010.

Ontario now has the highest rate of postsecondary education attainment among the 34 OECD countries.