And The Reviews Continue: Balanced Ontario Liberal Budget helps families and builds for the future
QUEEN'S PARK, ON, April 27, 2017 /CNW/ - Today's balanced Ontario Liberal Budget makes investments that will help families, create opportunities and build for the future.
Doris Grinspun, CEO, Registered Nurses' Association of Ontario
"This is tremendous when you think in the context of the country, Kathleen Wynne and Eric Hoskins are champions of pharmacare."
Bonnie Crombie, Mayor, Mississauga
"We applaud the provincial government's focused commitment to build regionally-integrated transit and modern infrastructure, with its renewed commitment to double the municipal share of the gas tax. Mississauga can expect approximately $33 million in gas tax funding. These are important and necessary funds that Council will use to invest to break gridlock, build transit and move people and our economy forward. The government's unprecedented commitment to fund $56 billion in public transit over the next 10 years will go toward the GO Regional Express rail initiative which will improve the number of trips on these crucial transit lines."
Dr. Paul Kershaw, Founder, Generation Squeeze
"Premier Wynne's budget record shows she tackles problems for younger generations more urgently than most premiers, and with positive national influence. Her leadership on pension policy in previous Ontario budgets influenced the federal government's decision to reform CPP last year in anticipation of the retirement needs of today's younger generations. Her decision to price pollution via cap and trade in advance of a national plan made it easier for the Government of Canada to negotiate a pan-Canadian carbon price. The scale of her government's infrastructure investments dwarfed that of former Prime Minister Harper, and paved the way for more ambitious investments by the Trudeau government."
Sean Mullin, Executive Director, Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship
"We strongly applaud the Budget's commitment to supporting innovation-driven economic growth, particularly through the backing of key emerging technologies such as AI and quantum, where Ontario has the opportunity to lead globally."
Ontario Long Term Care Association
"The OLTCA applauds the government for making seniors care in long-term homes a priority in this year's budget. The investments announced today to improve supports for seniors with dementia, to modernize ageing homes, and to support health professionals caring for seniors will go a long way to improving the quality of life for the 100,000 seniors who rely on long-term care homes every year, right across the province."
Rick Firth, President and CEO, Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
"The Government is demonstrating compassion and fiscal responsibility in Budget 2017. We want to thank the Government for providing additional investments and support for hospice palliative care."
Theresa Agnew, CEO, Nurse Practitioners' Association of Ontario
"Today's Provincial Budget provides great news for the people of Ontario. With significant funding increases to hospitals, long-term care hones, and primary care, we can better meet the needs of an aging population. NPAO is thrilled to hear about free prescription drugs for children and youth. Ontarians will see better care and better value with these commitments."
Janssen Pharmaceutical
"Janssen Inc. commends the Ontario government's decision to increase the drug budget by 8.4 per cent to $5.42 billion to include the creation of OHIP+, the first universal drug coverage to Ontarians under the age of 24 starting January 2018. This means Ontario youth will have increased access to needed medications. We strongly support policies where the primary focus is on patient well-being and ensuring fair and timely access to medications and we look forward to collaborating with the Ontario government and all other relevant stakeholders as they build and implement OHIP+."
Jim Keon, President, Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
"Enhancing access to cost-effective prescription medicines is a fundamental value for Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry. The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) supports the OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare Program and we look forward to working with the Ontario government to achieve its successful implementation."
Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada
"Measures included in today's Ontario budget will help strengthen investor protection and send a strong message of deterrence to those who would abuse the trust of their clients."
Cheryl Neave, Chair, FASD Ontario NetwE
"The benefit will be immediate. It will allow service providers and families to begin to address the chronic issues associated with the disability and stabilize lives. Resources will be more aptly and efficiently applied, reducing reliance on expensive crisis services and ensuring those with this (and other) developmental disabilities live with dignity."
Wanda Morris, VP of Advocacy, CARP
"For investors who want to protect their hard-earned savings, this sends an important signal that those who abuse their trust will pay for their wrongdoing."
AdvantAge Ontario
"Today's provincial budget included welcomed funding commitments in response to priorities raised by AdvantAge Ontario, most notably a $15 million annual increase in the food budget for long term care residents."
Natalie Mehra, Executive Director, Ontario Health Coalition
"The Liberal plan announced today will cover all Ontarians 24 and under so it will expand the existing drug benefits programs to cover not just seniors, and all people on welfare, but all 24 years and under for all drugs. That's 4400 or more drugs. So that's comprehensive – it covers all medically necessary drugs."
Farrah Khan, Sexual Violence Support and Education Office, Ryerson University & Co-Chair Provincial Roundtable on Violence Against Women.
"The provincial government's decision to fund the new abortion pill Mifegymiso will increase access for people in the province to make reproductive choices that work for them. It will particularly remove some barriers and increase options for people in northern, rural and remote areas that might not be able to access a surgical provider. This is a start and we look forward to working with the provincial government to implement this."
SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau
416-325-9138
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