TORONTO, ON – Stephanie Bowman, MPP for Don Valley West and Ontario Liberal Finance critic, has released the following statement in response to Wednesday morning’s report released by the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario (FAO):
“While the people of Ontario struggle to get the care they need as our healthcare workers leave in droves, this Conservative government is spending $1.7 billion less than they said they would on health and social services.
“Having travelled across the province for pre-budget consultations, I have seen how people are hurting, whether it be from a lack of housing, the opioid crisis, or from a lack of hospital access. Community organizations are begging for more money from this government. Spending even some of the $1.7 billion they said they could help these organizations save lives.
“This government also underspent on transit operating costs for Metrolinx and municipal transit by $462 million. Transit services across the province, including the TTC, are cutting routes that people rely on, while at the same time raising fares because they do not have sufficient funding. The government should spend that money now so people can get to work on time.
The government’s job is to provide the services people need, but instead they are choosing to shortchange us. Money they budgeted for the people of Ontario should be spent on the people of Ontario.”
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