Rapid Policy Update: Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Releases it’s Election Platform

· by Huzaifa Saeed

In October, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce network released Vote Prosperity, a platform for the 2018 provincial election campaign. The release of our platform nine months prior to the election was intended to ensure that all parties have an opportunity to address the most important issues to business within their own platforms.

Vote Prosperity is based upon four fundamental pillars of a strong Ontario:

  • Strengthening Business Competitiveness
  • Fostering Job Creation
  • Building Healthy Communities
  • Improving Government Accountability

This past weekend, the Ontario PC Party released their platform, The People’s Guarantee, the first to be released among the major political parties. The document highlights accountability and affordability as key themes and details six key measures that the PC Party promises to achieve within their first mandate, if elected:

  • 22.5% lower income taxes for the middle class;
  • 75% refund for child care expenses;
  • 12% reduction in the average residential hydro bill;
  • $1.9 billion commitment to mental health; and
  • A Trust, Integrity, and Accountability Act.
  • Proposal to spread out the wage increase from $14 to $15 minimum wage (currently scheduled for January 2019) to be spread over four years.

What Businesses Need to Know:

Health Care

The Ontario PCs have committed $1.9 billion to build a comprehensive mental health system, as well as promise to inject an additional $1.6 billion into frontline health care above current spending levels, by the end of their mandate.

Energy

The Ontario PCs will lower the average hydro bill by an additional 12 percent to save the average household, small business owner, or farmer over and above the existing 25 percent reduction from the Fair Hydro Plan. This will be achieved by:

  • Rebating the Hydro One dividend;
  • Moving conservation funding to the tax base;
  • Putting a moratorium on new contracts;
  • Renegotiating or cancelling pre-notice to proceed contracts where feasible.

They will also enable privately-funded natural gas expansion to access more communities. Additionally, the PCs have expressed an intent to create a competitive and stable electricity system for businesses, through a single stable industrial rate, providing support for combined heat and power programs, and/or exploring fuel switching programs.

Environment

To avoid the risk of duplicative carbon taxes, while ensuring that any revenue from a carbon price stays in Ontario, the Ontario PCs intend to make the following changes:

  • Cancel the Climate Change Action Plan, dismantle cap and trade, and withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative (WCI).
  • Opt in to the federal carbon price backstop.
  • Return 100 percent of carbon price revenue back to taxpayers in the form of corresponding tax relief.

Taxes and the Economy

The Ontario PCs will reduce the small business tax rate to 2.5 percent. They also intend to create a debt repayment plan in which budget surpluses go towards paying down the provincial debt.
They promise to commit more than $1 billion towards debt repayment during their first mandate, and have committed to returning to a balanced budget in the second year of their mandate, and run surpluses to pay down the debt in the next two years.

Accountability

The Ontario PCs will introduce a Trust, Integrity, and Accountability Act,  as well as establish clear performance targets for Ministers.  These performance targets will be set for a minimum of three years with future years showing improvements in the relevant benchmark, or progress toward a specific, measurable goal.

Infrastructure and Transportation

The Ontario PCs will make broadband and cellular infrastructure projects eligible under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund.

From Hamilton’s perspective, the platform makes a named reference and commitment to “completing” the Hamilton LRT B-Ling Project. They also intend to execute the existing transit commitments to two-way all-day GO train service as well as a commitment to complete the study for the Niagara West – GTA Highway Proposal, also known as “Mid-Pen Highway”.

Skills and Education

The Ontario PCs will double the Loans for Tools program and improve access to apprenticeships and have committed to continuing the expansion of the financial literacy pilot program into all secondary schools. There is also a proposal to enhance Ontario’s Jobs Information Portal to be more accessible to allow young people to align themselves with in-demand industries.

To read the full Ontario Progressive Conservatives Platform, please CLICK HERE. To read the full Ontario Chamber of Commerce network platform CLICK HERE.

The Hamilton Chamber of Commerce will continue to play an active role in engaging all three political parties and local candidates to ensure they are engaged with the priorities of of our members. For more information, please contact: Huzaifa Saeed | Policy & Research Analyst | Hamilton Chamber of Commerce | t: 905-522-1151 ext: 230 | e: h.saeed@hamiltonchamber.ca