MPP Sousa's Statement Expressing Disappointment In The 2014 Federal Budget

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, Charles Sousa, MPP Mississauga South, released the following statement on the 2014 Federal Budget: 

"Unilateral actions by the federal government have shortchanged and ripped off the people of Ontario. 

Ontarians are proud Canadians.

For the last 10 years, Ontarians have helped provinces across the country by contributing more than $50 billion to the equalization program. 

And this year, when Ontario should have received transfer payment protection, we are being penalized for being the leanest government in Canada. 

Ontarians have made investments in their economy that are beginning to pay off in the days and months ahead. 

And as the recovery is beginning to take hold, the federal government should step up to the plate. 

Instead, they are pulling the rug out from under us. 

That's not fair. 

We expected the federal government to treat us fairly, allowing Ontarians to keep more of their money - just like Canadians elsewhere across our country. 

We expected the federal government to live up to their practice of providing transitional payments to provinces facing a year-over-year decline in federal transfers. 

At a minimum, Ontarians should receive $641 million next year. 

More importantly, we expected a forward-looking vision.

We expected a real partner.

We expected long-term investments in our economic future. 

Instead they are playing political games and putting our economic recovery in the crosshairs.

Examples of areas where the federal budget failed to step up and assume a partnership role include:

• Doing nothing to address equal treatment on transfers.  Instead, Ontario will need to absorb a $641 million cut in its federal transfers.
  
  
• Offering no new federal initiatives with respect to jobs, leaving the province alone to do the heavy lifting on job creation. 
  
  
• Failing to support key Ontario economic development projects such as the Ring of Fire.

Additionally, the federal government's infrastructure plan proposes to spend $47 billion over ten years throughout all of Canada.  When compared to Ontario's $35 billion infrastructure plan over three years, the federal government's plan fails to address our country's infrastructure requirements.

Our government will continue to stand up for Ontario and invest in the priorities of our people: strong public services, a strong economy and a strong future for Ontario."

SOURCE: Liberal Caucus Service Bureau

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