Province Seeking Public Input to Help Develop the 2016 Ontario Budget

Pre-Budget Consultations Taking Place in Communities Across Ontario

Ontario is seeking input from individuals, organizations, and businesses, across the province to help shape Ontario’s upcoming budget.

Today, Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, was in Toronto to kick off provincewide pre-budget consultations, which include in-person sessions, telephone town halls and online idea-sharing.

Pre-budget consultations are an important way for Ontarians to have their say on how to grow the economy, create jobs and plan for the province’s future. Ideas gathered through these consultations will be considered as part of the budget development process.

Ontarians can get involved in the conversation by:

• Visiting Ontario.ca/budgettalks to share, discuss and vote for ideas online
• Calling the Ministry of Finance at 1-866-989-9002 to participate in an in-person consultation
• Emailing ideas to submissions@ontario.ca
• Mailing in your ideas
• Faxing in your ideas to 416-325-0969
• Tweeting ideas using #BudgetTalks

Engaging Ontarians is part of the government’s 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 Ontario’s history, creating a dynamic, innovative environment where business thrives, and building a secure retirement savings plan.

QUICK FACTS

• Written submissions are due by January 31, 2016.
• In 2015, the government heard from more than 300,000 Ontarians through pre-budget consultations.
• This year’s pre-budget consultations will take place in cities across Ontario including Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Mississauga, Hamilton, London and York Region.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

• How to get involved with pre-Budget consultations
• Read the 2015 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review
• Learn more about Ontario’s financial cycle

QUOTES

“Pre-Budget consultations are an essential part of budget development. It allows us to hear directly from Ontarians to ensure that the Budget represents their values and priorities and I look forward to participating and engaging in constructive consultations across our province. Together we will keep building a province where all Ontarians can reach their full potential.”
— Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance

CONTACTS

For Media Inquiries only:

Kelsey Ingram
Minister’s Office
416-326-1409
kelsey.ingram@ontario.ca

Scott Blodgett
Ministry of Finance
416-325-0324
scott.blodgett@ontario.ca

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