NEWS                                                                                                         March 25, 2008

The Hamilton area will receive major boosts in skills training and infrastructure spending through the 2008 Ontario Budget announced Tuesday at Queen’s Park.

Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said today that McGuinty government will invest $1.5 billion in skills training and another $1 billion on infrastructure projects in Ontario. In the Hamilton area, almost $33 million will be spent on the following Metrolynx projects:

o        $17.4 million for B-Line improvements, King-Main corridor in Hamilton

o        $12.4 million for A-Line improvements, James-Upper James Corridor with service to the HamiltonAirport

o        $3 million for the James Street North GO/VIA Station Gateway to Niagara

The government also announced it will invest $5,683,000 to rehabilitate social housing units in the Hamilton area.

QUOTES

“The budget demonstrates this governments’ continued commitment to investing in our  greatest asset, the people of Hamilton,” said Sophia Aggelonitis, MPP, HamiltonMountain. “With this new funding, we will continue to work with this city to keep it vibrant and growing.”

“Through key investments in education, innovation, health and public transit, the budget takes our community on a sustainable path forward and strengthens our local economy over the long term,” said Ted McMeekin, MPP, Ancaster Dundas Flamborough Westdale.

QUICK FACTS

Province-wide:

·         $1.5 billion, three-year Skills to Jobs Action Plan will get more Ontarians into well-paying jobs and into long-term training for new job opportunities: 

o        $355 million over three years for a Second Career Strategy that will help 20,000 unemployed workers make the transition to new careers and well-paying jobs in growing areas of the economy

o        $75 million over the next three years to expand apprenticeship training

o        Enhancing postsecondary student aid and investing in capital expansion and renewal. 

·         $1 billion in 2007-08 in new municipal infrastructure:

o        $497 million for public transit in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area

o        $100 million to rehabilitate social housing units, including energy-efficient improvements.

·         $750 million over four years in proposed new business tax relief:

o        Eliminating Capital Tax retroactive to January 1, 2007 for manufacturing and resource firms, which would entitle them to $190 million in rebates

o        A 10-year Ontario income tax exemption for new corporations that commercialize intellectual property developed by qualifying Canadian universities, colleges or research institutes

o        An extension of an accelerated Capital Cost Allowance rate for manufacturing and processing machinery and equipment investments made before 2012.

·         $40.4 billion in health sector spending in 2008-09, a six per cent increase:

o        More than $500 million over three years, in addition to other investments, to move towards hiring 9,000 nurses by 2011-12

o        $180 million over three years for hospitals to reduce emergency department wait times and improve patient satisfaction

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o        $53 million over the next three years to add more Family Health Teams

o        $38 million over the next three years to add more nurse practitioner-led clinics

o        Increasing enrolment spaces for midwives and nurse practitioners.

·         Early action on the McGuinty government’s poverty strategy:

o        $135 million over three years to provide better dental care to low-income families

o        $32 million over three years to double funding for the Student Nutrition Program

o        Two per cent increase in social assistance benefits in 2008-09.

·         The Budget proposes the new Property Tax Grant for Senior Homeowners, which would provide $1 billion over five years to help low- and moderate-income seniors.

·         Increasing spending in education to $18.8 billion, through Grants for Student Needs, in the 2008-09 school year to improve literacy and numeracy, increase graduation rates and decrease class sizes.

·         The McGuinty government is helping postsecondary students with education costs, including $385 million over three years for an annual Textbook and Technology Grant for full-time university and college student.

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For Further Information Contact:

Ted McMeekin, MPP – (905) 690-6552