The Worst Fiscal Management By Any Government Ever: Ontario Liberals React to Ford’s Fall Economic Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

29 October 2026

QUEEN'S PARK — Ontario Liberal Interim Leader John Fraser and Finance Critic Stephanie Bowman responded to the Fall Economic Statement:

"A Fall Economic Statement is about choices. It tells you who a government is fighting for. After eight years of Doug Ford, people are paying more, waiting longer and getting less," said Fraser.

“People are in a hard spot. Ontario lost 20,000 jobs last month, hospitals are treating up to 2,000 patients a day in hallways, and students are losing access to education through no fault of their own. Behind those numbers are families struggling to pay rent, patients waiting on stretchers, and students worried about their future,” said Fraser.

"This government is cutting what people need and paying for what they don't. It’s cutting $500 hundred million from health care and $600 million from education, all while spending $28.9 million on a private jet and $117 million on government advertising. The result is a massive deficit and very little to show for it,” said Fraser.

The deficit has grown to $16.9 billion, up $3.1 billion since the spring budget. Ontario will spend more than $17 billion on interest payments this year, over $47 million a day, and borrowing costs are climbing after the Bank of Canada raised rates yesterday.

“No government has ever asked Ontario taxpayers to pay $47 million a day in interest. Doug Ford is the first,“ said Bowman. “The Premier can’t keep blaming Trump. At some point, he has to look at his choices.”

“Their plan is not protecting Ontario. It is failing Ontario. The Fall Economic Statement shows there will be fewer jobs and fewer housing starts, meaning the affordability crisis is going to get worse,“ said Bowman.

“There is no support for families who are struggling. Their promise to protect Ontario is being broken over and over again. We can do better,” Bowman concluded.