Mario Sergio, M.P.P.

May 19, 2004

Press Release

NEW BUDGET INVESTS $1 BILLION IN TRANSIT EXPANSION & RENEWAL

Queen’s Park – The McGuinty government today announced its comprehensive, four-year plan to invest in health and education, foster economic growth and balance the budget. The 2004 Budget sets out a responsible, realistic strategy to deal with Ontario’s fiscal challenges, while delivering on the change Ontarians want and need, said Mario Sergio M.P.P. for York West.

“Ontarians spoke to us about the need to transform the health care system and the importance of investing in education,” Sergio said after Finance Minister Greg Sorbara tabled his first Budget. “They spoke about the importance of having a comprehensive, multi-year plan that lays the foundation for economic sustainability and growth.”

“We are one step closer to seeing a new subway line to York University” said Sergio. “More than $1Billion will be invested in public transit which will include the environmental assessment for the proposed subway line. It is good news to see that the most vulnerable in our communities will be helped. Those on Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works recipients will receive a 3% increase. This will be the first benefit increase in 11 years. Social assistance benefits will not be reduced this year to take into account the July 1, 2004 increase to the federal national Child benefit Supplement. There will be 4,000 more subsidized child care spaces for pre-school children. Affordable housing units will be increased. Women’s shelters will be refurbished and expanded, with additional funding going into second stage housing for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. We are helping our seniors live with as independently as possible with the dignity they deserve by increasing the Ontario Property Tax credit by $125 per year. There will be an additional $406 million to long-term care facilities for 3,760 new beds and a 3% increase in the comfort allowance for low-income residents of long term care facilities.”

Other major initiatives announced in today’s Budget include:
Transforming Health Care

shorter wait times for cancer patients; nine new MRI and CT sites and 9,000 additional cataract surgeries by 2005-06; and by 2007-08, 36,000 additional cardiac services and 2,340 additional joint replacements;
150 new Family Health Teams of doctors, nurse practitioners and other health care providers established across Ontario over the next four years to deliver around-the-clock primary care;
by 2007-08, enhancements to home care will provide an additional 95,700 Ontarians annually with care in their homes;
$11.3 billion in operating support for hospitals in 2004-05;
community health centres to receive an additional $14 million in 2004-05 to enhance primary care delivery at 54 existing centres;
purchasing 12,000 bed lifts for hospitals and long-term care facilities;
adding chickenpox, meningitis and pneumonia to the children’s free immunization program this year, potentially saving families more than $600 per child.

“Our investments in primary care, will ensure care this year for up to 167,000 Ontarians who can’t find a doctor,” said Sergio. “It will be important to note that 37% of Ontarians will not pay the Ontario Health Premium as it is based on income. Low income earners will pay nothing.”

Success for Students

by 2007-08, the government’s investment in Ontario’s schools will increase by $2.1 billion, increasing per-student funding by more than $1,100;
smaller class sizes phased in over four years, with a cap of 20 children per class for JK to Grade 3;
increasing from 50 per cent to 75 per cent the target rate for students meeting the provincial standard for reading, writing and math by 2007-08;
funding training spaces for 1,000 additional teachers in 2005-06;
training 4,000 new teacher specialists in literacy and numeracy, bringing the total to 8,000; and
more than doubling the number of schools that receive extra support from turnaround teams.

The Budget also highlighted several key initiatives for municipalities, including delivering on the commitment to make two cents of the existing provincial gas tax available for public transit over three years, increasing the share of public health costs covered by the Province from 50 per cent to 75 per cent by 2007, and investing in improvements to highways, affordable housing and water quality.

The thousands of Ontarians who took part in the most extensive pre-budget consultations ever conducted inspired the government’s plan. Sergio said the Ontarians who participated in the consultation also stressed the importance of a gradual approach to balancing the budget, in order to preserve vital public services.

“In order to stabilize our fiscal situation and invest in health care and education, we have made two important choices—to increase revenues and to balance the budget over four years,” Sergio said. “It is simply not possible to deliver a balanced budget this year without destabilizing vital public services and the economy itself.”




	Releases
Releases Speeches Bills Statements and Questions	May 19, 2004 Press Release NEW BUDGET INVESTS $1 BILLION IN TRANSIT EXPANSION & RENEWAL Queen’s Park – The McGuinty government today announced its comprehensive, four-year plan to invest in health and education, foster economic growth and balance the budget. The 2004 Budget sets out a responsible, realistic strategy to deal with Ontario’s fiscal challenges, while delivering on the change Ontarians want and need, said Mario Sergio M.P.P. for York West. “Ontarians spoke to us about the need to transform the health care system and the importance of investing in education,” Sergio said after Finance Minister Greg Sorbara tabled his first Budget. “They spoke about the importance of having a comprehensive, multi-year plan that lays the foundation for economic sustainability and growth.” “We are one step closer to seeing a new subway line to York University” said Sergio. “More than $1Billion will be invested in public transit which will include the environmental assessment for the proposed subway line. It is good news to see that the most vulnerable in our communities will be helped. Those on Ontario Disability Support Program and Ontario Works recipients will receive a 3% increase. This will be the first benefit increase *in 11 years. Social assistance benefits will not be reduced this year to take into account the July 1, 2004 increase to the federal national Child benefit Supplement. There will be 4,000 more subsidized child care spaces for pre-school children. Affordable housing units will be increased. Women’s shelters will be refurbished and expanded, with additional funding going into second stage housing for women and children who have been victims of domestic violence. We are helping our seniors live with as independently as possible with the dignity they deserve by increasing the Ontario Property Tax credit by $125 per year. There will be an additional $406 million to long-term care facilities for 3,760 new beds and a 3% increase in the comfort allowance for low-income residents of long term care facilities.” Other major initiatives announced in today’s Budget include: Transforming Health Care* shorter wait times for cancer patients; nine new MRI and CT sites and 9,000 additional cataract surgeries by 2005-06; and by 2007-08, 36,000 additional cardiac services and 2,340 additional joint replacements; 150 new Family Health Teams of doctors, nurse practitioners and other health care providers established across Ontario over the next four years to deliver around-the-clock primary care; by 2007-08, enhancements to home care will provide an additional 95,700 Ontarians annually with care in their homes; $11.3 billion in operating support for hospitals in 2004-05; community health centres to receive an additional $14 million in 2004-05 to enhance primary care delivery at 54 existing centres; purchasing 12,000 bed lifts for hospitals and long-term care facilities; adding chickenpox, meningitis and pneumonia to the children’s free immunization program this year, potentially saving families more than $600 per child. “Our investments in primary care, will ensure care this year for up to 167,000 Ontarians who can’t find a doctor,” said Sergio. “It will be important to note that 37% of Ontarians will not pay the Ontario Health Premium as it is based on income. Low income earners will pay nothing.” Success for Students by 2007-08, the government’s investment in Ontario’s schools will increase by $2.1 billion, increasing per-student funding by more than $1,100; smaller class sizes phased in over four years, with a cap of 20 children per class for JK to Grade 3; increasing from 50 per cent to 75 per cent the target rate for students meeting the provincial standard for reading, writing and math by 2007-08; funding training spaces for 1,000 additional teachers in 2005-06; training 4,000 new teacher specialists in literacy and numeracy, bringing the total to 8,000; and more than doubling the number of schools that receive extra support from turnaround teams. The Budget also highlighted several key initiatives for municipalities, including delivering on the commitment to make two cents of the existing provincial gas tax available for public transit over three years, increasing the share of public health costs covered by the Province from 50 per cent to 75 per cent by 2007, and investing in improvements to highways, affordable housing and water quality. The thousands of Ontarians who took part in the most extensive pre-budget consultations ever conducted inspired the government’s plan. Sergio said the Ontarians who participated in the consultation also stressed the importance of a gradual approach to balancing the budget, in order to preserve vital public services. “In order to stabilize our fiscal situation and invest in health care and education, we have made two important choices—to increase revenues and to balance the budget over four years,” Sergio said. “It is simply not possible to deliver a balanced budget this year without destabilizing vital public services and the economy itself.”