Watchdog says Ontario spent $10.3 billion less than planned during last fiscal year
Ontario spent about $10 billion less in the last fiscal year than it had planned, the province's financial watchdog said Wednesday as the opposition criticized the government for not investing those funds in more pandemic supports.
The Financial Accountability Office said in a report that the government had boosted its spending plan by $22.1 billion during the 2020-21 fiscal year, which was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic.
But, the province actually spent $10.3 billion less than planned, including $1 billion less in health and a $3.4-billion end-of-year balance in a contingency fund. That money will go toward reducing Ontario's net debt - projected to be about $400 billion.
A spokeswoman for the minister of health said part of the lower-than-planned health spending was due to lower demand for some services due to the pandemic, and lower spending by the public health sector on monitoring, detecting, and containing COVID-19 due to improving trends.
The $10.3 billion also includes $1.1 billion less than planned on interest on debt.
The FAO said that for the last 10 years, actual spending was $3.8 billion lower than planned, on average, making this year's figure "significantly higher" than in the previous decade.
A spokesman for the president of the treasury board noted that overall spending increased by $21.3 billion compared to the previous year, due to pandemic measures, and that there was no money left over in a Health Fund or a Support for People and Jobs Fund.
"Over the past year, our government has made unprecedented and historic investments to protect the health-care system and support people and businesses across the province," Sebastian Skamski said in a statement.
"Premier (Doug) Ford has said time and again throughout this pandemic that our government will not spare a penny when it comes to the health and safety of the people of Ontario."
The financial watchdog is projecting that the 2020-21 budget deficit will be $29.3 billion, compared to the $38.5 billion the government projected in its last budget. That estimate is based, in part, on revenue expected to be $2.7 billion higher than forecast, since the outlook for Ontario's economy has improved since the budget, the report said.
The NDP reiterated a call for a public inquiry into Ontario's COVID-19 response.
"While our loved ones suffered in long-term care, businesses struggled through painfully long lockdowns, and the province could not keep up with things like contact tracing, the Ford government was squirrelling away billions of dollars that they refused to invest to help Ontarians," finance critic Catherine Fife said in a statement.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca said Ford "shortchanged" Ontarians.
"My heart breaks thinking of the impact this $10.3 billion could have had if it was put towards providing 10 days of paid sick leave, support for our loved ones in nursing homes, and a safe return to school last September," he wrote.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2021.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.