More Reviews Are In: Ontario Liberal Budget creates jobs and grows the economy

QUEEN'S PARK, ON, Feb. 25, 2016 /CNW/ - Today's Ontario Liberal budget makes investments to build Ontario up, create new jobs and grow the economy.

SPENCER NESTICO-SEMIANIW, PRESIDENT, ONTARIO UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT ALLIANCE
"These are sweeping improvements that will dramatically improve financial aid for our students. Students will receive more grants, and for many of them, tuition will be free."

THRESA AGNEW, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NURSE PRACTITIONERS' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
"Today, we are thrilled to hear that the Wynne government and Ministers Hoskins and Sousa have heard our collective voice. Within the 2016 Ontario Budget there is an investment that will help CHCs, FHTs, NPLCs and AHACs retain staff so as to better serve clients and communities. This investment shows that our interprofessional health provider team-members are valued."

MATT BROWN, MAYOR, CITY OF LONDON
"I see this as very positive. I am pleased the Ontario Government continues to see our rapid transit initiative as a provincial project worthy of support.  Ongoing discussions with our partners at both the provincial and federal levels have been extremely productive, and our continued cooperation will ensure a truly transformative result for London and Southwestern Ontario."

JEFF SCHERER, PRESIDENT, COLLEGE STUDENT ALLIANCE
"CSA is thrilled to see the 2016 Budget reflect current realities. By implementing the Ontario Student Grant, the government has committed to a more accessible sector for all students seeking a college education."

ALLAN O'DETTE, PRESIDENT & CEO, ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
"We are encouraged by the approach government has taken to the implementation of the cap and trade system. We're also encouraged by the government's commitment to ensure the proceeds from the new cap and trade system are not subsumed under general revenues."

JANET NOLAN, CHAIR, NETWORK ON DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES
"We are pleased that government continues to invest in people with a developmental disability and help to reduce poverty.."

JUDY BATES, PRESIDENT, ONTARIO CONFEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY FACULTY
"We are very pleased with the investment in our students particularly in providing the better access particularly for low income students‎, that's very good news."

PEDRO BARATA, VP COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, UNITED WAY TORONTO & YORK REGION
"Today's budget moves in the right direction to close the opportunity gap in our region. Investments in affordable housing and homelessness — in particular a new housing benefit — plus ending clawbacks on child support for families on social assistance are crucial for poverty reduction. Making post-secondary education more affordable for low and modest income students is also a welcome move to help ensure the success of every young person."

SEVAUN PALVETZIAN, CEO, CIVIC ACTION
"In the 2016 budget, we saw a game-changing moment in access to education with free post-secondary tuition to those who need it most. We applaud this commitment to reduce poverty and level the learning playing field. This builds on the already strong base created by Ontario's Youth Jobs Strategy and the leadership the government is showing to bring multi-sector players, including the private sector, together to tackle youth unemployment."

LORRAINE SUNSTRUM-MANN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRANDVIEW CHILDREN'S CENTRE
"Grandview ‎Children's Centre is thrilled by these significant investments in children's services.  This will change the lives of families with kids with special needs. For families in Durham Region, this means getting the right services sooner."

MARGARET SPOELSTRA, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AUTISM ONTARIO
"Families raising children with autism have been waiting a long time this announcement. Providing early, evidence-based intervention, when it matters most, will set children with autism on the best path forward. This investment will set the stage for continuous learning for years to come."

JOSIPA PETRUNIC, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO, CANADIAN URBAN TRANSIT RESEARCH & INNOVATION CONSORTIUM
"Today's provincial budget made it clear Ontario will become a hotbed of transportation innovation in the near future. The $10M committed to CUTRIC projects will be invested in solutions for twenty-first mobility, including zero-emissions electric and alternative propulsion technologies, autonomous vehicle systems, light-weight materials development, and Big Data driven software tools for transit. The future of transportation will be 'Made in Ontario'."

SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau

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