February 2023
Preparations for the 2023 Ontario Budget are nearing their final stages, with the Budget expected to be presented in the Legislative Assembly in late March.
As always, the Ministry of Finance is engaged in extensive consultations in the lead up to the Budget.
The Legislature’s all-party Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs has travelled the province and listened to dozens of presentations from economists, municipalities, business groups, social advocates, and other interested partners. In the coming days, the Committee will present its recommendations to the Minister of Finance, and the Opposition Parties will offer their suggestions as well. All of the provincial ministries will have submitted their budget requests. MPPs are known to be relentlessly vocal as well, representing the needs and interests of their constituencies.
All of this work is done within the context of our current economic challenges. Inflation and the rising price of food, fuel and housing have impacted everyone, particularly our seniors and low income residents.
As your MPP, I continue to push for our local infrastructure priorities. Working with the staff of Halton Healthcare, Georgetown Hospital, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, we are continuing to seek the Government’s approval to move to Stage 2 of planning for hospital redevelopment. We are also asking for a substantial planning grant from the Ministry for this next stage of planning, to help determine the functional programming our new hospital will provide for our community in the decades to come. Health care is one of the provincial government’s most important responsibilities. Planning for our new hospital facilities will take years, and we are ready to move forward.
It is a pleasure to work with the Region of Halton and the Town of Halton Hills’ elected Councils and staff. Our relationship is vitally important, and I am happy to support them any way I can. At the recent Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference, we had countless conversations with provincial Ministers, their Parliamentary Assistants, MPPs, municipal Councillors and staff. Ongoing communication and dialogue help to strengthen the partnership between the Province and Local Government, and get things done for the people of Ontario.