Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne
News Release
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Ontario will move forward with a robust transportation and transit infrastructure plan.
That plan will not include increases in the gas tax, HST or personal income taxes aimed at middle-income earners.
Building new transit and new and expanded highways, roads and bridges is important to all Ontarians and essential to the province's short- and long-term economic growth, and job creation plan.
The Ontario government will continue to help people in their everyday lives, especially middle-income families, through measures that include: an increase in the minimum wage to $11 an hour effective June 1; a 30% post-secondary tuition grant; full-day kindergarten, which saves parents up to $6,500 per child; and a plan to lower auto insurance rates by 15% on average.
Since 2003, the Ontario Government has made significant investments in transit, roads, bridges, hospitals and schools. Highlights include:
• More than 7,900 kilometres of roads and more than 950 bridges built or re-built;
• 10 new GO Train stations and two replacement stations built;
• 23 new hospitals built or underway and 12 major hospital projects currently under construction;
• Nearly 650 new schools opened, planned or under construction, and 27,000 repairs to roofs, windows and boilers.
Assisting Ontario's families is part of the government's economic plan to create jobs for today and tomorrow. The comprehensive plan and its six priorities focus on Ontario's greatest strengths - its people and strategic partnerships.
QUICK FACTS
• Congestion in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area is costing Ontarians at least $6 billion a year in the region alone. That cost is projected to rise to $15 billion by 2031.
• The 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant saves students $1,730 on tuition in post-secondary degree programs and $790 for students in diploma or certificate programs.
• Ontario families can save up to $6,500 per year in child care costs by enrolling their child in full-day kindergarten.
• The government now funds 21 vaccines – up from 8 in 2003, saving families an average of $2,500 per child.
• The government is moving forward with a made-in-Ontario plan to help workers save enough for a comfortable retirement.
QUOTES
"My government will continue to make people’s everyday lives better and work to lower the cost of living – particularly for middle-income earners and their families. I know people are feeling the pinch, and that’s why we will continue to take action to help middle-income families make ends meet. We will also bring forward a robust plan to improve transit and transportation across the province."
— Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
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