Liberals liked Duncan's budget, and Conservatives didn't
By Bill Rea

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan seemed pretty impressed with the provincial budget he brought down recently, and his fellow Liberals are cheering him.

But the same can't be said for Conservatives, both in Ottawa and at Queen's Park.

"Our economy today remains as strong and resilient as Ontarians themselves and it outperformed expectations this year," Duncan declared in his address to the legislature.

He also acknowledged "a number of challenges that are creating uncertainty," including "a slowing U.S. economy, rising oil prices and a higher-than-anticipated Canadian dollar are reducing growth forecasts and creating greater uncertainty here in Ontario."

But he also said this was the Liberal government's third balanced budget in a row.

He also announced the budget is investing in skills and education, including $1.5 billion over three years in the government's Skills to Jobs Action Plan. Duncan also promised improved access to health care by expanding nurse practitionerled clinics and providing more personal support workers over the next three years..

Duncan also made good on his promise to invest another $1 billion in municipal infrastructure.

As well, he pledged another $750 million in business tax relief over the next four years.

"I was delighted," declared Oak Ridges - Markham MPP Dr. Helena Jaczek.

She was impressed with efforts to encourage entrepreneurship, pointing out there are some great ideas that never get to market, at least in Canada.

"He obviously is aware of the economic situation," Jaczek said of Duncan. "It's really a budget that addresses our current economic situation."

"There's no cutting of services in order to meet the infrastructure needs," she added. "It's really well balanced."

There's also been controversy lately, with federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty holding a news conference to call on the government to make more cuts to business taxes, to the indignation of Duncan and Premier Dalton Mcguinty. That followed previous suggestions from Flaherty that Ontario is not a good place to invest.

Jaczek wasn't impressed with what Flaherty's been up to, saying he's been offering "a lot of unwanted advice."

She also charged that Flaherty seems to think he knows more than McGuinty or Duncan when it comes to setting a budget. "I think we're running the finances the way we know how," she remarked.

"There's so much onetime spending in it," declared York - Simcoe MPP Julia Munro.

She pointed out municipalities will be getting infrastructure money, but added "it doesn't give them the ability to plan and it's certainly not stable funding.

"Obviously, they're not going to say no, but it's not helpful," she added.

Munro also took note of the plan to spend $355 million on retraining, pointing out it will aid 20,000 people. But she added there have been 194,000 jobs lost in the manufacturing sector, so 20,000 is not much.

Munro said the Progressive Conservative platform in 2003 talked of the need to ease the burden on senior homeowners, and the government has finally addressed that with a $250 grant for seniors who need it, with it going up to $500 by 2010.

In terms of long-term care, Munro said the sector had wanted an increase of $513 million, and is only getting $107 million over three years. "I think people have done the math," she said.

Addressing Flaherty's comments, Munro thought he was within his rights. He represents an Ontario riding, so whatever is in the budget is going to impact on his constituents.

"There's certainly a legitimacy in his concern," she remarked, adding a lot of what he said has been echoed by economists all over the country, with concerns that Ontario could end up being a have-not province.

"I think it's a positive budget," commented Oak Ridges - Markham MP Lui Temelkovski, who thought it showed a good understanding of Ontario's finances and tried to make headway in such areas as transportation, health care and the environment.

Temelkovski was less impressed with what Flaherty's been up to.

"I think it's totally inappropriate," he remarked. "Ontarians are upset with him. Him, being from Ontario, and he's bashing Ontario."

"People around the world would take that at face value, when it's not right," he added.

York- Simcoe MP Peter Van Loan said he was a little disappointed the budget didn't do more to lower taxes to create jobs. He said Ontario has the highest business taxes of any jurisdiction in North America, and there's a lot of concern about what that does for the province's economy.

He also pointed out most of the new programs and initiatives that Duncan announced are being paid for with federal funds. "The real concern continues to be the competitiveness of the economy and high taxes," he said.

Not surprisingly, Van Loan had few problems with his cabinet colleague Flaherty getting involved.

"He's simply making the same point about the importance of Ontario's economy," Van Loan said. "The point he's making is a simple one. No Canadian wants to see Ontario become a have-not province."

He also pointed out Flaherty's been less critical than the former Liberal government was of Ontario when Bob Rae was premier.

"We think we're offering positive, constructive advice," he said.