Ontario Budget Criticized for Undermining Public Services and Exacerbating Cost-of-Living Crisis

Critics argue the budget prioritizes tax cuts over essential service funding, leading to further privatization and service degradation.

The Ontario government's recent budget has sparked significant criticism for its impact on public services, with claims of exacerbating the cost-of-living crisis and pushing further privatization.
CUPE Ontario and the Ontario Federation of Labour (OFL) have both condemned the budget, highlighting a real per capita spending decrease and nearly $8 billion in revenue losses, which they argue is needed for public service restoration.
Critics argue the budget fails to address the needs of public sector workers, with no plan to compensate those affected by the unconstitutional Bill 124, and exacerbates staffing crises in essential services.
The budget's approach to funding, particularly in health care and education, has been criticized for prioritizing tax cuts and credits over necessary public service funding, contributing to service degradation and privatization.
Despite claims of increased funding for post-secondary education, the budget is said to leave Ontario with the lowest levels of university funding among provinces, with one-third of universities still facing deficits.