Friday, December 18, 2015
Ontario Government
2015 Ontario Highlights
Government Makes Significant Progress on its Four-Part Economic Plan
The province made significant progress in 2015 on its four-part plan to build Ontario up.
Premier Kathleen Wynne and her team have spent the past year delivering on their commitments to the people of Ontario, including introducing a budget last spring that laid out the government's plan to eliminate the deficit in a balanced way by 2017-18 while helping individuals, families and businesses succeed. Other highlights include:
- Making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario's history -- more than $134 billion over 10 years -- in priorities such as roads, bridges and transit
- Creating the framework and design for the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan, which will help provide retirement security for the two-thirds of Ontario workers without a workplace pension plan
- Launching a cap and trade program to impose a hard ceiling on greenhouse gas pollution, hosting the Climate Summit of the Americas, releasing Ontario's Climate Change Strategy and joining a delegation of provincial and federal leaders at COP21, the UN's climate change conference in Paris
- Launching It's Never Okay, a ground-breaking action plan to stop sexual violence and harassment, and committing $41 million over three years to support its implementation
- Updating the Health and Physical Education curriculum to reflect the realities faced by today's students
- Acting on the recommendation by the Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets to broaden Hydro One's ownership by selling shares through an Initial Public Offering, which yielded gross proceeds of $1.83 billion in November
- Modernizing beer retailing in Ontario by allowing the sale of beer in the first 58 grocery store locations. Ultimately, up to 450 grocery stores will be authorized to sell beer, offering consumers more convenience and choice while maintaining a strong commitment to social responsibility
- Promoting Ontario globally through Premier's missions to New York and Washington, D.C. in the spring, and to Los Angeles, San Francisco and China in the fall
- Hosting the largest international multi-sport event ever held on Canadian soil -- the TORONTO 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games
- Helping more refugees settle in Ontario, including $2 million in relief assistance and $8.5 million in funding to help them resettle
The government's achievements in 2015 are part of its plan to build Ontario up. The four-part plan includes investing in people's talents and skills, making the largest investment in public infrastructure in the province's history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.
Quick Facts:
- In the Fall Economic Statement, Ontario announced that it will increase its infrastructure investment to more than $134 billion over 10 years. This includes $31.5 billion through Moving Ontario Forward for transit, transportation and other priority infrastructure, with about $16 billion invested in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) and about $15 billion outside the GTHA.
- Ontario became the first province to set a mid-term greenhouse gas pollution reduction target for 2030, committing to reduce emissions to 37 per cent below 1990 levels. Current data shows that Ontario met its 2014 reduction target of six per cent below 1990 levels and is well past the halfway point to meeting its target of 15 per cent by 2020.
- For the second straight year, Ontario was named the North American leader in attracting foreign capital investment — surpassing places with much larger economies like California and Texas. The ranking was by fDi Intelligence, which does in-depth research and analysis on foreign direct investment trends globally.
- In 2015 the government passed 25 bills and introduced another 7, furthering its efforts to improve quality of life for people across the province.
Background Information:
Additional Resources:
Quotes:
"In 2015, our government made important progress on improving the lives of people across Ontario. From record investments in infrastructure to combatting climate change to beating our deficit forecasts, our plan is building more opportunity and security for people in every part of the province. In 2016, we will build on these successes to create sustainable prosperity in Ontario — today and for future generations."
— Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
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