First quarter results for 2016 show the Ontario economy growing at an annualized rate of three per cent, the highest in Canada and all G7 countries.
Premier Kathleen Wynne said Ontario's real gross domestic product grew 0.8 per cent in January to March, following similar growth in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Ontario's first-quarter gains were driven by higher exports and increased household spending, added Wynne.
Wynne also said the Liberal government is confident the growing economy will allow it to eliminate a $5.7-billion deficit in fiscal 2017-18, as promised.
However, the New Democrats said the Ontario economy wasn't quite as rosy a picture as the Liberals are painting, and warned the government plans to eliminate the deficit by slashing health-care services
"Their promise is to balance the books by overcrowding our hospitals, firing thousands of health-care workers, and creating a $3-billion backlog in critical repairs to hospitals,'' said NDP finance critic Catherine Fife.
The story behind their numbers shows that ... the number of people working in temporary jobs, without benefits or even sick days, has increased more than twelve times faster than people with stable, permanent jobs."
Economy Is Kicking Canada's *** Right Now
Premier Kathleen Wynne said Ontario's real gross domestic product grew 0.8 per cent in January to March, following similar growth in the fourth quarter of 2015.
Ontario's first-quarter gains were driven by higher exports and increased household spending, added Wynne.
Wynne also said the Liberal government is confident the growing economy will allow it to eliminate a $5.7-billion deficit in fiscal 2017-18, as promised.
However, the New Democrats said the Ontario economy wasn't quite as rosy a picture as the Liberals are painting, and warned the government plans to eliminate the deficit by slashing health-care services
"Their promise is to balance the books by overcrowding our hospitals, firing thousands of health-care workers, and creating a $3-billion backlog in critical repairs to hospitals,'' said NDP finance critic Catherine Fife.
The story behind their numbers shows that ... the number of people working in temporary jobs, without benefits or even sick days, has increased more than twelve times faster than people with stable, permanent jobs."
Economy Is Kicking Canada's *** Right Now
