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2015 Budget: Ontario Makes Largest Infrastructure
Investment in Province’s History
We’re Building Ontario Up, Growing the Economy, and Creating Jobs
April 23, 2015
Today, Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, introduced Ontario’s 2015 Budget - making
possible unprecedented investments in transit and infrastructure to promote economic growth
and job creation.
The budget delivers on our commitment of innovative economic growth, while protecting vital
public services important to Ontario families. This includes our plan to unlock the value of
provincial assets to support the largest infrastructure development in our province’s history.
A lower than projected deficit of $8.5 billion in 2015-16 will put us at the lowest level since the
onset of the global recession. Building on this progress, the province will continue to take a
thoughtful and deliberate approach on the path to balance by 2017-18.
Our four-part plan for Ontarians will build public infrastructure, invest in your skills and talents,
support a dynamic environment where business thrives, and establish a secure retirement
savings plan.
Great News for Kitchener Centre & Waterloo Region:
•
The province will contribute $1.5 million annually over ten years for The Lazaridis
Institute for the Management of Technology Enterprise to leverage a $20 million
investment from the private sector.
•
$2.1 billion allocated for Regional Express Rail on the Kitchener Corridor from the
Moving Ontario Forward fund
•
Construction of a new portion of Hwy 7 between Kitchener and Guelph in 2015
•
The purchase of a 53 KM section of the CN rail track to advance GO infrastructure
•
Advancing an environmental assessment for a high-speed rail line connecting
Kitchener-Waterloo, Toronto, Windsor and London
•
Language Interpreter Services for victims of domestic/sexual violence and human
trafficking at the KW Multicultural Centre ($906, 887)
•
Support through the Ontario Local Food Fund for the Working Centre’s Hacienda
Sarria Market Garden ($34,875)
Constituency Office
379 Queen Street South, Unit 3, Kitchener, ON N2G 1W6
Tel 519-579-5460 I Fax 519-579-2121 I [email protected]
Building Up Ontario’s Infrastructure
When Ontario invests, we build. When we build, we grow. Through Building Together our
2015 budget will provide an unprecedented investment of over $130 billion over 10 years.
This will include:
• Increasing the dedicated funds for Moving Ontario Forward by $2.6 billion, for a total
of $31.5 billion over 10 years - supporting more than 20,000 jobs annually
• $15 billion in transportation and infrastructure outside the GTHA
• $11.9 billion in 2015-16 on roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, hospitals and
school
Developing a Highly Skilled Workforce
Ontario’s greatest asset is its people. By investing in Ontarians today, we are equipping them
with the skills and training to access greater employment opportunities, supporting a strong
economy for tomorrow.
Budget measures include:
•
Additional $250 million over two years for the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy, for a total
of more than $565 million
•
Modernizing the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) to strengthen financial
assistance for students by indexing loan limits to inflation
•
Additional $13 million over two years for pre-apprenticeship, $19 million over three
years for in-class apprentice training, and $23 million over two years in the
Apprenticeship Enhancement Fund
•
Improving education and skills training from preschool and full-day kindergarten through
to postsecondary education and trade apprenticeships with experiential learning
programs such as Experience Ontario
Constituency Office
379 Queen Street South, Unit 3, Kitchener, ON N2G 1W6
Tel 519-579-5460 I Fax 519-579-2121 I [email protected]
Partnering with Business to Create Jobs
Our government continues to support the creation of rewarding, high-paying jobs. Since the
2009 recession, Ontario has recovered dramatically, gaining 500,000 new jobs. Threequarters of those jobs are in industries paying above-average wages. By creating high-quality,
well-paying jobs, our government is supporting opportunities for personal and social
development, ensuring prosperity for all Ontarians.
In Kitchener, the Southwestern Ontario Development fund has supported:
• Ultra Manufacturing (Mitchell Plastics) - $197,700
• Ontario Drive and Gear Limited - $1,000,000
• DC Foods - $800, 050
QUOTE
“Ontario’s 2015 Budget is more than a report on the province’s finances. It is
about protecting, preserving and enhancing the quality of life of people all across
this province. Ontario is poised to lead Canada in the modern economy through
historic infrastructure and public transit investments which will not only move
goods to market faster and get people home from work safer, but make Ontario a
more competitive, more productive province.”
— Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance
“I’m very encouraged to see our government making many important investments
in Kitchener Centre. This forward-thinking budget is investing in much-needed
infrastructure, while working toward balancing the books in a responsible way.
We’re tackling the big issues that matter to people in our community.”
--Daiene Vernile, MPP Kitchener Centre
LEARN MORE
http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2015/
Constituency Office
379 Queen Street South, Unit 3, Kitchener, ON N2G 1W6
Tel 519-579-5460 I Fax 519-579-2121 I [email protected]