XPost: can.politics, tor.general   
      
   Kathleen Wynne seems to be using major common sense in where she cuts, where   
   she needs to spend.   
   What a breath of fresh air after the hatchet jobs of Mike Harris and Ernie Eves   
   to try to reduce the deficit.   
   ______________________________________   
   Macleans/The Canadian Press - April 23, 2015   
      
      
   10 highlights of the 2015 Ontario budget   
      
      
   TORONTO — Here are the highlights of the Ontario budget introduced by Finance   
   Minister Charles Sousa on Thursday:   
      
   1. Ontario’s deficit will be reduced from $10.9 billion to $8.5 billion in   
   2015-16, falling to $4.8 billion in 2016-17 and return to balance by 2017-18.   
      
   2. The $131.9-billion budget includes $120.5 billion in program spending plus   
   $11.4 billion in interest on the province’s debt, which is projected to hit   
   $298.9 billion next year.   
      
   3. $11.9 billion in 2015-16 for infrastructure projects such as highway   
   improvements in northern Ontario and rapid transit — part of a $130-billion,   
   10-year plan announced in last year’s budget.   
      
   4. An additional $200 million for a 10-year jobs fund announced last year, with   
   a total of $2.7 billion for the program that provides corporate grants in   
   return for jobs.   
      
      
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   5. Insurance companies will be required to give drivers a discount for using   
   winter tires on their vehicles.  However, the standard duration of medical and   
   rehabilitation benefits will be reduced from 10 years to five years for all   
   claimants except children.   
      
   6. $9 billion expected to be raised from the sale of 60 per cent of Hydro One,   
   the giant electricity transmission utility, $4 billion of which will be devoted   
   to public transit.   
      
   7. $100 million a year will be raised with a new tax on all beer sold in   
   Ontario as part of modernization plan that will allow some grocery stores to   
   sell six-packs of beer.   
      
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   8. $50.8 billion for health care, the single largest government expenditure,   
   which is projected to grow an average of 1.9 per cent a year over three years.   
      
   9. $25.2 billion for education, which will grow by two per cent a year, while   
   funding for post-secondary education and training will hold steady at $7.8   
   billion.   
      
   10. All other areas will face average decreases of 5.5 per cent a year until   
   the deficit is eliminated, but they represent only 16 per cent of   
   government’s   
   total program spending.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)