November 29th, 2021

Ford again withholds billions meant for health, education, pandemic fighting

QUEEN’S PARK – Official Opposition NDP Leader Andrea Horwath responded to the Financial Accountability Officer’s revelation that the Ford government spent $4.3 billion less than planned in the first half of the 2021-22 fiscal year, which includes underspending in public health by $600 million and education by nearly $700 million:

“Again we’re seeing Doug Ford withholding money at the expense of Ontario families trying to weather and recover from the pandemic. Every time the FAO provides an update, we learn that Ford is sitting on billions of dollars that should have been used to provide the things Ontarians needed, when they needed it the most.

Ford chose not to provide paid sick days, or give our kids smaller and safer classrooms with better air quality. He chose not to speed up surgeries for the thousands of people waiting in pain, or to hire more workers in each long-term care home. He chose not to help workers or small businesses trying to bounce back. He had the money budgeted, but didn’t want to spend it on everyday people.

It’s especially disheartening to learn that, at a time when we needed to make sure as many people got vaccinated and quickly as possible, Ford underspent in public health by $600 million. He also underspent in education by nearly $700 million as families across Ontario were demanding a safe return to school. People deserve so much better — and could have better if Ford weren’t withholding money.”