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Prebudget
Consultation -
Feb. 22, 2007 Clinton: Carol
Mitchell, MPP Huron-Bruce announced the results of a recent online
Pre-Budget consultation offered on her website,
www.carolmitchell.ca . This
years results offered few surprises. 33 % of respondents suggested that
the first priority for the upcoming Provincial budget should be an
increased investment in environmental protection. This was followed
closely (29%) by the suggestion to further decrease the budget deficit.
Other areas receiving strong support included Healthcare funding (22%)
and Agriculture (16%).
The survey also indicated that, of the Provinces vast array of programs,
healthcare was considered the most important followed by environmental
protection and highways and infrastructure. Also receiving attention in
this portion of the survey were agriculture and education.
The third question on the survey was met with overwhelming support to
halt the shifting of costs associated with maintaining Ontario’s
municipalities to the property owner. The consensus was that
municipalities should continue to be funded directly by the Province
through the allocation of income tax dollars. In addition to this,
respondents indicated that they continue to feel strongly that the
federal government should turn more tax dollars back to Ontario by way
of equalization payments.
The final question on the survey dealt with how the Province could
potentially foster economic growth in Ontario’s rural areas. As
expected, this question elicited a wide variety of responses. Many of
the responses indicated that education, especially in training, should
be considered a solid base for future growth. There was also emphasis
placed on further support for Ontario’s small business sector and
continuing to improve and maintain Ontario’s vital infrastructure.
This online survey is part of the yearly Pre-budget consultations
process that MPP Carol Mitchell has completed since taking office in
2003. “I feel that it’s important that the budget has some reference to
the needs of people in all the communities across Ontario” said MPP
Mitchell. The results of the survey will be delivered to the Minister of
Finance, The Honourable Greg Sorbara, for his pre-budget preparations.
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For further information
Carol Mitchell, MPP
Huron-Bruce
519 482-5630 |
