Sorbara has started gathering input for next provincial budget
By Bill Rea

The provincial budget is still some months away, but Finance Minister (and Vaughan - King - Aurora MPP) Greg Sorbara is travelling the province seeking input.

He held the first pre-budget session in Vaughan last Wednesday, behind closed doors, attended by about 40 people, most of whom were invited. Sorbara said the aim of these meetings is to "take a sounding of the public," finding out what's on their minds and what the priorities are.

About a dozen more of these meetings are in the works throughout the province.

"I look forward to hearing from a wide range of Ontarians about ways we can work together to make Ontario stronger and improve our economic advantage," he commented.

Sorbara also said the people attending the sessions are being asked to ponder four questions, dealing with what the government can do to continue to foster economic growth and job creation in the province; what should be the government's top priority for this year's budget and how it should be funded; if there are any government provided programs or service that are no longer needed; and what else can be done to press Ontario's case for fairness with the federal government.

"Today was very gratifying," Sorbara said after the meeting.

He said representatives of both school boards in York expressed satisfaction with progress the government has made so far, and there were some positive comments about social services too. He added there was some talk of a skills shortage and the need to invest in training to keep up with job creation.

"One wonderful person suggested we start a leaflet campaign to get (federal Finance Minister) Jim Flaherty's attention on the fiscal gap,' he remarked.

Sorbara offered no hints about what the budget is likely to contain, or even when it might come down, only that it would be in the spring, "in the fullness of time."

He also said he heard no concerns expressed about taxes or the controversial health care premium, which was included in the first budget Sorbara brought down in 2004. He added there were some favourable comments about previous Liberal budgets, such as expressions of appreciation for including initiatives dealing with children's mental health. "That's gratifying," he remarked, but added there's the underlying message that more needs to be done.

"We have made progress in paying down the deficits we've inherited through disciplined fiscal management and historic investments in health, education and infrastructure," he observed. "Now, more than ever, we need to be prudent in our approach to managing Ontario's finances."

"With fair support from the federal government, Ontario could do even more to strengthen the economy and improve public services like health, education and infrastructure," he added. "We'll continue to press Ottawa to honour its commitments to Ontario, which will help unlock our province's potential for greater economic growth."