“Budget 2019 will be a plan that is thoughtful and responsible,” the treasurer said, adding he will map out a “path to balance,” though he could not yet say if the province would be back in the black by the 2022 election. In last June’s campaign, Premier Doug Ford promised to slash about $6 billion in funding from the annual $150 billion spending plan — or 4 per cent — while maintaining “not one” job will be lost. With a deficit that has ballooned to $13.5 billion — in part due to accounting changes that no longer count $11 billion in government-sponsored pension plans as assets — that suggests Fedeli’s budget will introduce some austerity measures.

Source: thestar March 07, 2019 14:48 UTC