(Mar.22.07)    Queen’s Park — The McGuinty government’s fourth Budget expands opportunity for all Ontarians by investing in our children, continuing to strengthen education, health care and infrastructure and balancing the budget, Markham's MPP Michael Chan announced today.

“Our government’s plan is working for York Region,” said MPP Chan. “We’re making our communities stronger through new proposed investments, such as funding for improving public transit and affordable housing projects.”

Investments in York Region include:
• Local businesses will save $3 million in Business Education Tax rates
• $7.7 million federal transit trust funds to improve local transportation
• $1.2 million towards the McMichael Art Gallery in Kleinburg, Ontario
• Ending GTA social service pooling, saving GTA property taxpayers more than $200 million when fully phased out
• $9.6 million more for affordable housing projects
• $155,000 to Woodbridge, Richmond Hill, Aurora for projects such as the Community Living York South
• $157, 300 to King City for identified projects such as the Vita Community Living Services
• $221,453 to Markham for projects such as the Cerebral Palsey Parent Council Participation House
• $100,000 to Markham for identified priorities such as the Federation of Chinese Canadians in York Region
• $106,700 to Newmarket, Aurora for the Community Living Newmarket Aurora District
• $15 million for the new Jewish Community Centre in Vaughan
• $86,000 to Thornhill for programs including REENA
• $30,000 to Thornhill for initiatives such as the Sidernese Cultural Centre

“Today the McGuinty government has done a great service to the people of York Region by announcing that the GTA pooling system will be phased out once and for all,” said MPP Chan. “By eliminating GTA pooling, providing $85 million for funding for VIVA Phase 2, and co-operating with the federal government on the Highway 407 East extension beginning with the environmental assessment, the McGuinty government is showing a strong commitment to improving the quality of life in York Region.”

The 2007 Ontario Budget is giving families the support they deserve to participate in Ontario’s prosperity. The McGuinty government is helping 1.3 million children through a new $2.1 billion program. The new Ontario Child Benefit (OCB) would be available to all children under the age of 18 in low-income families, and would help ease the transition to work for parents receiving social assistance.

“By investing in Ontario’s children and families, our government is creating new economic strength and forming the foundation of a successful, caring and compassionate society,” said MPP Mario G. Racco (Thornhill).

In addition to the OCB, the McGuinty government’s investments proposed in this Budget to help children and families include:

• Increasing Ontario Disability Support and Ontario Works benefits by two per cent
• Increasing the minimum wage to $10.25 an hour in 2010
• Enhancing child care through an additional $25 million in 2007-08 and $50 million in ongoing support in 2008-09
• Launching new affordable housing initiatives
• Giving pensioners access to their money by allowing them to unlock 25 per cent of their locked-in funds and permitting pension income-splitting for senior couples
• Increasing benefits by 2.5 per cent each year for three years for 155,000 injured workers
• Making legal aid more accessible to the most vulnerable citizens in Ontario by investing an additional $51 million over the next three years starting in 2007-08

The 2007 Budget, which contains no tax increases, projects a balanced budget for 2006-07, the year second in a row, eliminating the $5.5 billion deficit in 2003-2004.

It also announces $125 million in immediate environmental initiatives. We will also allocate more than $200 million over the next three years to address climate change.

“The McGuinty government’s plan is working for Ontarians. Jobs are up, the deficit is gone, class sizes are smaller, wait times are shorter for key health procedures, and postsecondary education is becoming more accessible and affordable,” said MPP Greg Sorbara (Vaughan-King-Aurora).

“We will continue to be focused and disciplined in our management of the province's finances, as we continue to expand opportunity through key investments in children and families, health care, education and infrastructure,” said MPP Sorbara.