News Release

Share Your Ideas for the 2018 Ontario Budget

October 12, 2017

Up to $5 Million Available to Bring Ideas to Life

Ontario launched Budget Talks today, an online consultation that allows the public to help shape policies and programs that will be part of Ontario’s future.

The government will provide up to $5 million to fund up to five proposals identified and voted on by the public as part of the 2018 Budget.

Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, and Yvan Baker, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance, made the announcement today in Toronto.

This is the fourth year in a row the government has engaged the public in the development of the Ontario budget through Budget Talks, and the second year that funding will be allocated directly to citizen-led proposals.

Through Ontario.ca/budgettalks, people are invited to share ideas on five focus areas, including child care, seniors, small business, students and healthy living.

To be eligible, proposals must:

  • Be submitted online by midnight on November 3, 2017
  • Be for a new fund, pilot project, study, event or digital service
  • Fall within the scope of the Ontario government to deliver
  • Help support one of the five focus areas outlined on Budget Talks
  • Require a one-time investment of no more than $1 million
  • Show progress or completion by spring 2019

Engaging the people of Ontario in the budget process is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

QUICK FACTS

  • In January 2018, people will be able to comment and vote on ideas generated during the first phase of Budget Talks.
  • In 2017, people submitted 404 ideas, wrote 923 comments and casted 19,229 votes as part of Budget Talks. Reducing and preventing food waste, improving digital services for libraries and accessing digitized health data were the three ideas that received the most public votes and were included in the 2017 Budget. View the project tracker to follow our progress, as we work to implement the ideas.
  • Ontario is the first province to commit to funding ideas from the public as part of its budget.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

 

QUOTES

“Innovation is the driver of good policy. The ideas brought to life through Budget Talks have shaped policies that are delivering results for people in communities across the province. Each year, we look forward to tapping into the skills and experiences of Ontario’s best and brightest as we deliver on the priorities that make a real difference in people’s lives.”
— Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance

 

“Ontario is making it easier for more people to get involved in developing our plan to grow our economy and support programs that they rely on. Budget Talks is an innovative online consultation that provides people with a unique opportunity to engage with their government and their communities. ”
— Yvan Baker, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance

CONTACTS

Orli Giroux Namian
Minister’s Office
416-325-8679
Orli.GirouxNamian@ontario.ca

Scott Blodgett
Communications Services Branch
416-325-0324
Scott.Blodget@ontario.ca

Ministry of Finance
http://www.ontario.ca/finance