backgrounder

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For immediate release
May 25, 2014

THE FULLY COSTED 2014 LIBERAL PLAN



Premier Kathleen Wynnes Plan for Ontario is based on the 2014 Budget. The financial and
fiscal projections are unchanged. All investments in the Liberal Plan are fully accounted for in
the 2014 Budget.

Ontarios Fiscal Plan
Interim Plan Medium Term Outlook Extended Outlook
2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18
Revenue 115.7 118.9 124.5 129.4 134.8
Expense
Programs
116.4 119.4 120.1 120.2 119.4
Interest on Debt 10.6 11.0 12.0 13.3 14.2
Total Expense 127.0 130.4 132.1 133.5 133.6
Surplus/(Deficit)
(11.3) (11.5) (7.7) (4.1) 1.2
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Ontario Liberals have a strong record of fiscal management and achievement:

We have maintained the lowest program spending per capita of any province.
We have implemented around 80 per cent of the Drummond recommendations, while
rejecting those that would diminish public services, like the rollback of Full-Day
Kindergarten or the 30% Off Tuition Grant.
Weve overachieved on our targets every year, by a total of $24-billion in the last 5
years, including $400-million in 2013-14.
Weve kept spending growth overall at around 2.2 per cent over the last three years; less
than the growth in the economy and inflation.

The Liberal Plan does not include increases in income taxes on low-to-middle income earners,
and does not raise general corporate taxes, which would be extremely risky to the economy. As
part of the Liberal Plan for Ontario:

We are bringing in a modest increase on income taxes for those who can afford it the
highest earning 2 per cent of the population.
We are looking for savings and efficiencies in our Crown agencies.
We will continue to manage compensation costs, while funding modest increases weve
already announced and funded for some low-income workers.

Some investments in the Liberal Plan, while fully accounted for in the 2014 Budget, were not
described within it. For example, the following new commitments will be funded out of the 10-
year, $2.5 billion Jobs and Prosperity Fund:

Experience Ontario: $10 million in each of 2015-16 and 2016-17
o In partnership with communities and the private sector, we would launch
Experience Ontario, a nine-month paid community work and service program, to
support graduating high school students before they go on to apprenticeship,
work, or postsecondary education.
Smaller-Scale Manufacturing: $5 million in each of 2015-16 and 2016-17:

o We will make small grants available to people who are starting small-scale
manufacturing businesses with job-creating potential.

Start-Up Hubs: $5 million in each of 2015-16.

o In partnership with universities, colleges, and business mentors, we will create
five new Start-Up Hubs to help high-potential growth companies in the most
innovative industries find customers and capital.
Before Reserve
Reserve 1.0 1.2 1.2 1.2
Surplus/(Deficit) (11.3) (12.5) (8.9) (5.3)
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Global Growth Fund: $5 million in each of 2015-16 and 2016-17:

o We will expand our Going Global Trade Strategy by increasing support for the
Global Growth Fund, We will partner with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce,
local chambers, and chambers representing Ontarios diverse ethnic
communities, we will help more Ontario companies win business outside
Canada.
Disabilities Employment Strategy: $15 million in each of 2015-16 and 2016-17

o We will partner with business to help more people with disabilities achieve their
maximum employment potential.

The following new commitments would be funded out of the 10-year, $130 billion infrastructure
plan:

Walkerton Clean Water Centre: $30 million over 10 years.
Expanding access to Natural Gas Supplies: $200 million over two years for a Natural
Gas Access Loan and $15 million in each of 2015-16 and 2016-17 for a Natural Gas
Economic Development Grant.
We will keep health care spending on a sustainable path, with projected spending growth of
2.6% in 2014-15 and 1.8% in 2015-16. Within that funding, the following new commitments
would be funded from within the existing budget of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.
Providing a Primary Care Guarantee
o We will guarantee that every Ontarian has access to a primary care provider. We
will work with our partners to expand access to primary care, and develop targeted
approaches for northern, rural and fast-growing communities.
Reducing Wait Times
o We will build on our record of success in reducing wait times in five key areas by
more than 50 per cent. This second phase of our wait times strategy will focus on
referrals to specialists.
Capping Hospital Parking Fees
o We will work with hospitals to cap or cut parking fees for those who must visit the
hospital frequently, either due to a medical condition or to regularly visit a loved one.
Expanding Scopes of Practice
o We will build on our expansion of scopes of practice, to ensure that nurses,
pharmacists and other health professionals can make their full contribution to the
health care system.

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For further information
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Ontario Liberal Party
Blane McPhail
416 230 2084