The Experts Agree: Ontario Liberals Building Opportunity and Security

QUEEN'S PARK, May 1, 2014 /CNW/ - The experts agree that today's Ontario Liberal budget is building opportunity today and security for now and for our future:

DEREK BURLETON, DEPUTY CHIEF ECONOMIST, TD ECONOMICS
"You gotta give credit where credit's due: there are five years in a row of beating their budget targets. The bigger-ticket initiatives are long-term in nature or come at no direct cost to the government, like the pension."

SID RYAN, PRESIDENT, ONTARIO FEDERATION OF LABOUR
"From labour's perspective I can't see any reason why we would run away from this budget and run the risk of allowing Mr. Hudak into the premier's seat… We think this is a progressive budget and we think it should be supported."

JOSH HJARTASON, VP- POLICY AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
"We welcome the announcement as a significant step toward building the necessary infrastructure that will allow for the development of the Ring of Fire…We are renewing our call for the federal government to match all provincial infrastructure spending in the Ring of Fire."

JERRY DIAS, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, UNIFOR
"Things like pensions, things like infrastructure spending, taking care of child care, seniors, those are all things that have been, you know, the backbone of the NDP's policies for years. I would expect that [the NDP] would support [the budget]."

SUSAN ENG, VP - ADVOCACY, CARP CANADA
"The time is long past for debating whether we need a supplementary pension plan…CARP members have been calling for just such a plan…The proposed pension plan will benefit their children and grandchildren, not themselves directly, but it is a ballot question for them."

LINDA HALSEM STROUD, ONTARIO NURSES ASSOCIATION
"With the improvements in the personal support workers, and supporting health care workers in the community…and with a real focus on ensuring that Ontarians feel like they are better living here in Ontario, we should stay the party line."

ANDREA CALVER, COORDINATOR, ONTARIO COALITION FOR BETTER CHILDCARE
"There are a tremendous number of things in this budget that can do a lot of good for people for child care staff for personal support workers and for those with developmental disabilities.  I remain hopeful that the budget will pass and that we'll be able to make the gains for child care workers and personal support workers."

ALAN COUTTS, PRESIDENT & CEO, NORONT RESOURCES LTD.
"Noront Resources Ltd. is pleased the Ontario government has proposed $1.0 billion in spending for infrastructure in the Ring of Fire…This infrastructure funding announcement is a vital milestone that will improve the quality of life in remote communities, while enabling development and prosperity in Northern Ontario."

RHONDA SEIDMAN-CARLSON, PRESIDENT, REGISTERED NURSES' ASSOCIATION OF ONTARIO
"The recent announcement to place 75 nurse practitioners in nursing homes over the next three years is good news for Ontario's seniors…[Moving Ontario Forward] is a very important health measure that will reduce air pollution and gridlock in urban centres."

HELMUT PASTRICK, CHIEF ECONOMIST, CENTRAL 1 CREDIT UNION
"This kind of capital spending serves long term benefits. It can improve productivity and enhances our capital base, both physical and human. It is appropriate to engage in that kind of spending."

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES
"Cliffs is encouraged by the Ontario government's announcement to pledge $1 billion for infrastructure development in the Province's Ring of Fire region. This is a positive development for Northern Ontario and we will continue to monitor the government's progress. "

ONTARIO CONFEDERATION OF UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSOCIATIONS
"Professors and academic librarians were pleased to see provisions in the budget that will allow OCUFA to continue to develop options for fair and sustainable pension plans at Ontario's universities."

PATRICK WHELAN, UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' COUNCIL PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO
"I'm very excited to see the $500 million for deferred maintenance for existing infrastructure on campus."

IAIN KLUGMAN, CEO, COMMUNITECH
"Southern Ontario's innovation centres have the potential to form a technology super cluster to rival any in the world, and high-speed rail is exactly the kind of infrastructure we need to make it happen."

CARL ZEHR, MAYOR, CITY OF KITCHENER
"Improved rail transportation will be an economic game changer that will have local, provincial and national impacts…Two-way all-day GO trains or high speed rail will drive economic development and job creation, enabling our region to attract and retain the talent necessary to compete globally."

CRAIG HANEY, MANAGER - INNOVATIONS, CANADIAN TIRE
"A consistent 2-way train allows us an opportunity to book consistent meetings and eliminate the cost and wasted time of car travel between offices, connecting our offices in a more real and tangible way. "

ANITA KHANNA, ONTARIO CAMPAIGN 2000
"Eradicating poverty requires investments in effective policies and programs, especially through periods of slow growth. These critical investments in the OCB build on a successful poverty reduction track record."

SOURCE: Liberal Caucus Service Bureau

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