Opinion Martin Regg Cohn: Doug Ford’s fiscal good fortune is bad luck for the rest of us
Ontario’s treasury just landed a $20.6-billion jackpot from swelling tax revenues over the past 12 months, all thanks to a rapid COVID recovery. That unexpected windfall, which Ford’s Tories didn’t see coming, whittles down the massive deficits racked up by the premier in mid-pandemic.Yes, the government’s books are in better shape. But at ground level, the economy will be in rougher shape going forward ― a good deal worse than the premier predicted in his pre-election budget last year.
For a premier who likes to recite the words, “Promise made, promise kept,” this amounts to a big climb down: Projection made, projection unkept. In fact, unemployment increased shortly after the Tories took power. That hasn’t stopped Bethlenfalvy from shamelessly claiming bragging rights while bashing a previous Liberal government for jobs lost long ago.
In reality, Ford isn’t at fault for the shortfall, any more than the McGuinty Liberals were responsible for the bad years back then. The point is that the blame game played by both sides never got us anywhere, and the Tories taking shots at Liberals who lost power long ago gets us nowhere. The allegations first came from the independent Financial Accountability Office, a non-partisan body that reports to the legislature, and they have become a recurring media meme. But if you compare apples to apples, and budget to budget, government spending in the health sector is essentially on target as promised.
The explanation? Costs were roughly $284 million lower “primarily due to delays in construction projects due to current market conditions … as well as lower forecasted expenses for demand-driven Ontario Public Drug Programs” ― meaning that people didn’t need their meds as much.
المملكة العربية السعودية أحدث الأخبار, المملكة العربية السعودية عناوين
Similar News:يمكنك أيضًا قراءة قصص إخبارية مشابهة لهذه التي قمنا بجمعها من مصادر إخبارية أخرى.
Opinion | An Ottawa-Ontario turf war hobbled efforts to bring in skilled workers. Here’s what ended itInflation, risk of recession, and labour shortages raised the stakes for the governments of Justin Trudeau and Doug Ford, Martin Regg Cohn writes.
اقرأ أكثر »
Doug Ford got his hair cut for $26 at Walmart and now has regretsOntario Premier Doug Ford may come from a wealthy family with a whole host of rich and powerful connections, but the almost conspicuously relatable...
اقرأ أكثر »
Doug Ford regrets getting $26 haircut from WalmartOntario Premier Doug Ford shared a tale of his misadventures at Walmart. “I’m a cheap son-of-a-gun... I walk in there and I said ‘I want a trim, just a little, little trim.'”
اقرأ أكثر »
Doug Ford haircut comes up shortOntario Premier Doug Ford is sporting a new look after a barber took a little too much off the top.
اقرأ أكثر »
Doug Ford regrets getting $26 haircut from Walmart\u0027I\u0027m a cheap son\u002Dof\u002Da\u002Dgun so I see the $15 haircut or whatever, I walk in there and I said I want a trim, just a little, little trim\u0027
اقرأ أكثر »