More Experts Agree: Taking Strong Action and Making the Right Choices for Ontario Families

QUEEN'S PARK, ON, March 27, 2012 /CNW/ - More experts agree that today's Ontario Liberal budget makes the right choices to grow the economy and support good schools and public health care:

PATRICIA CROFT, FORMER CHIEF ECONOMIST, RBC GLOBAL ASSET MANAGEMENT
"I disagree with Mr. Hudak, he's talking about swift action, and swift action would mean a deep recession… swift action in terms of cutting spending even further or raising taxes. So this budget must balance austerity with growth, that's a very tough act but I think they've done a pretty good job."

GARY MCNAMARA, PRESIDENT, ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPALITIES OF ONTARIO
"Looking at the uploads, we are very pleased to see that being maintained.  As we understand the constraints the provincial government is in to sort of relax those opportunities would be a burden on the taxpayer.  We made so much progress in the last five years - we don't want to backstep."

ALLAN O'DETTE, PRESIDENT AND CEO, ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
"We asked the Ontario Government to focus on reducing the account deficit and they laid out an assertive plan to focus on reducing the deficit and restore the books to balance."

MARK ROCHON, INTERIM PRESIDENT, ONTARIO HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION
"The government has very clearly signaled that it has rejected harmful, across-the-board cuts to health care funding, and that it intends to move forward quickly and responsibly with implementing its Action Plan for Health Care - a plan that Ontario's hospitals fully support."

DAVID McNEIL, PRESIDENT, REGISTERED NURSES ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
"Measures to improve same-day and next-day appointments as well as after-hours care with primary care providers, including nurse practitioners and physicians, are sound investments to prevent health complications and misuse of hospital ERs."

JAN KASPERSKI, CEO, ONTARIO COLLEGE OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS
"I think the message that was delivered is quite clear, that we are moving forward with the action plan and making sure our children have the best education possible. As a health care provider, seeing health care protected put a smile on my face. As the CEO of the Ontario College of Family Physicians we will be there hand and glove with the Minister and the ministry staff making it happen."

SUSAN D. VANDERBENT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ONTARIO HOME CARE ASSOCIATION
"I'm very happy with the budget as a home care provider. This is an opportunity to serve more Ontarians. This is certainly what we've been looking for and I think it's really important; home care is where people want to be, people want to be at home."

ADRIANNA TETLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO HEALTH CENTRES
"The community (health) sector will be pleased with this. We're supportive of the way it's going."

CATHERINE FIFE, PRESIDENT, ONTARIO PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARDS' ASSOCIATION
"Full day kindergarten - we're very happy to see that the government has honoured their commitment to it. Parents love it and it's actually transforming public education in the province of Ontario. The research is supporting it, school boards have been planning for it and we already have our strategies in place for 2014."

COUNCIL OF ONTARIO UNIVERSITIES
"Ontario universities welcome the government's continued commitment to support the projected growth in student enrolment, as part of Ontario's path to continued prosperity."

SUSAN ENG, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ADVOCACY, CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF RETIRED PERSONS
"I think our members will be very pleased with the budget as it applies to additional funding for the homecare sector to make sure that people have an opportunity to deal with the chronic concerns at home rather than institutions."

CANADIAN AUTO WORKERS
"(Ken) Lewenza applauded the government's decision not to further lower the corporate tax rate."

Brian Clow
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