Reviews Keep Rolling In: 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.
Durhane Wong-Rieger, President & CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Diseases
"We believe Ontario's Child and Youth OHIP+ is a bold move and a really big deal for Ontario families, coming at a time when other drug plans, including the private plans, seem to be abandoning those who are most vulnerable and in need. The Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders is committed to working with the Ontario government and calls on other provinces to follow suit."
Mario Calla, Executive Director, COSTI
"This is a good budget. It's good to see that Ontario is investing in the success of newcomer because if they succeed, Ontario succeeds. The budget has some enhancements of the Bridge Training Program which allows newcomers skills to transition to jobs in Ontario it has some additional resources for community engagement and culture programs for newcomers so that they can integrate more fully into our community. I think these are all really good initiatives and necessary."
Pamela Fralick, President, Innovative Medicines Canada
"Innovative Medicines Canada congratulates the Government of Ontario on this bold step forward as it represents an important milestone for access to drugs in the province. Innovative medicines play an important role in patients' health and we are pleased to see that all of Ontario's youth will benefit from this plan."
Ontario Real Estate Association
"We put a number of pro-home ownership proposals before Premier Wynne and Finance Minister Sousa and we're very pleased to see those ideas reflected in today's Budget. Ontario Realtors have been urging the province to streamline the home development approvals process and we got that commitment today."
Mary McAllister, President, Canadian Nurses Association Ontario
"Today, I was particularly pleased to see significant investments in our Ontario health-care system. The new proposed pharmacare program and the additional support for family caregivers are important issues that nurses had clearly identified as key policy issues that needed to be addressed in Canada."
Barb Shellian, President, Canadian Nurses Association
"We are pleased to see that Ontario is bringing care closer to home for Ontarians."
Patrick Dillon, Business Manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario
"The government's commitments to invest $156 billion over the next decade, supporting an average of 125,000 jobs per year to build and replenish our highways, transit systems, schools and hospitals sends a very strong signal to the construction industry and to those willing to enter it, that lots of work lies ahead. With investments like these, Ontario is committed to creating jobs for the future, and it's those jobs which give the construction industry confidence that we can train the future workforce."
Eli Angen, Ontario Regional Director, Pembina Institute
"We're pleased to see the provincial government continuing to invest in Ontario's low carbon economy. By keeping investment in transit infrastructure at about one third of infrastructure expenditures the provincial government is ensuring that our growing population will be supported by transportation options, outside of the personal car."
Patrick Leclerc, President and CEO, Canadian Urban Transit Association
"Supporting municipalities through a long-term vision as well as a robust gas tax transfer is an excellent model of provincial transit investment as it not only allows for transit expansion projects, but for smart investments in rehabilitation projects, as well."
Ian Howcroft, Vice President, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters Ontario
"There is no innovation or economic growth without skilled workers. The measures taken today by the Government of Ontario to enhance support for skills training and development will allow manufacturers to compete across borders and grow the middle class in Ontario."
Linda Haslam-Stroud, President, Ontario Nurses' Association
"We are pleased at the government's announcement of a pharmacare program for Ontarians aged 24 years and younger, beginning next January."
Karen Michell, Executive Director, Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario
"The commitment to investments in Ontario's health care system, and specifically in hospitals, is welcomed by CAHO and its members. Financially stable hospitals create thriving health research environments, which build and sustain Ontario's innovation-driven economy. This Budget's acknowledgement of the importance of health innovation and health system research will help drive a healthier, wealthier, and smarter Ontario."
Sharleen Stewart, President, SEIU Healthcare
"Ontario's 2017 budget provides a much-needed boost to healthcare. I applaud the Ontario Government for making necessary investments across all sectors to ensure a brighter future for all healthcare workers."
Karen Harrington, Alzheimer's advocate
"The Ontario government has finally given people living with Alzheimer's and other dementias and their caregivers hope for a better way of life."
Catherine Gapp, CEO of AdvantAge Ontario
"The government has put a high priority on supporting seniors to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. This funding will help ensure the community sector has the resources it needs to play a larger and more effective role in the continuum of care for seniors."
Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
"Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters welcomes the investments that will strengthen Ontario manufacturing sector announced in the 2017 provincial budget. We were pleased that the government responded to our calls for measures to support skills training and development including work integrated and experiential learning.
Greg Pollock, President and CEO, Advocis
"We welcome the government's plans to improve oversight of the financial advice and planning professions and to restrict the use of titles, as this will ultimately lead to a stronger profession and more protection for Canadian consumers."
Toronto Financial Services Alliance
"The Toronto Financial Services Alliance welcomes today's announcement of an Ontario FinTech strategy, contained in the Province's Budget. TFSA also supports the investment of nearly $190 million over three years to help create 40,000 new work-related learning opportunities."
Mortgage Professionals Canada
"The association supports the efforts to provide further protections for investors in syndicated mortgage activity and looks forward to providing the industry's best practices to the government to assist in the development of these new regulations."
SOURCE Liberal Caucus Service Bureau
416-325-9138
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