What they're saying about the budget

Red ink for years, doubled deficit and record spending, oh my!

ABOVE THE FOLD

It’s red ink for the foreseeable future in Ontario as Finance Minister PETER BETHLENFALVY punted balance projections until fiscal 2028-29, blaming tough economic times. The deficit will balloon to an eye-popping $13.8 billion next year, while this year’s spending bill clocks in at a record $244 billion.

Here’s how folks are reacting to the fiscal plan (and read on for more highlights)…

MITCH DAVIDSON, a former executive director of policy to Premier DOUG FORD who helped craft past PC platforms, who’s now VP of policy at Enterprise Canada, said it’s clear “things are hard.”

“The Ontario government is a massive apparatus. Turning the ship in any direction takes time, commitment, and perseverance. This Ontario government has been trying to make changes toward fiscal responsibility for some time but lots of events outside of their control have gotten in the way.

There may never be a right time to get the fiscal house in order, but this Budget tells me they want to do it and …