Too little, too late.
That’s how Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece described the provincial budget, presented on March 27 in the Ontario legislature.
“The Liberals have maxed out Ontario’s credit card,” said Pettapiece.
“For all the government’s talk of restraint, this budget barely scratches the surface of the mountain of debt they’ve collected.”
At a projected $15.3 billion for 2011-12, the provincial deficit stands about three times higher than those of all other provinces combined.
“The McGuinty government has two deficits: a financial deficit and a credibility deficit,” Pettapiece said.
“Premier McGuinty has yet to accept any responsibility for his part in creating those deficits over the last eight years. Their budget is a very weak response to their spending addiction.”
The government is now proposing to cancel the tax cuts for businesses that it once promised to deliver. That, said Pettapiece, will send a terrible signal to job creators, at a time when new private-sector jobs are needed more than ever.
“This budget is bad News for the unemployed,” Pettapiece said. “It’s bad News for businesses, especially small businesses, that would create the jobs we need in Perth-Wellington. They are the backbone of our local economy.”
The budget also targets farmers with its intention to renegotiate the business risk management program – another broken promise, said Pettapiece.
Many farmers and small businesses will take another hit with the government’s plan to cap the so-called “clean energy benefit” at 3,000kWh per month.
“The Liberals have again refused to acknowledge the high cost of their energy policies,” said Pettapiece.
“While many people are struggling to pay their bills, the Liberal budget has no plan to address skyrocketing energy costs.”
For all of these reasons, Pettapiece planned to vote against the budget.
“This isn’t about party politics,” said Pettapiece. “It’s about the future of our province.”
