Ontario Budget 2005

Yesterday the McGuinty Liberal government unveiled its second budget. The Budget contains no new taxes but delays balancing the provincial budget to 2008-09 although the deficit may be eliminated a year earlier if the reserve is not required. Highlights of the Ontario Budget 2005 include:

- $6.2 billion more will be spent on postsecondary education and training between now and 2009-10 including:

-- increased financial aid for low- and middle-income students;
-- increasing the number of college and university students enrolled in postsecondary education;
-- expanding new first-year medical education spaces by 15 per cent; and
-- increasing the number of new apprentices to 26,000 annually by 2007-08.

- more doctors and nurses, reducing wait times and keeping people healthy

- strengthening Ontario's economy through critical investments in infrastructure and innovation, including a five-year, $30 billion infrastructure plan for roads, transit, hospitals, schools, colleges and universities, more affordable housing and a proposed Research Council of Ontario.

More information on the Ontario budget can be found at the Ontario Budget 2005 Home