Waterloo MPP finance critic Catherine Fife slams PCs' pre-election budget

Waterloo MPP and Opposition finance critic Catherine Fife says the Progressive Conservatives' pre-election budget misses the mark by failing to invest in needed social services. 

Speaking at Queen's Park Thursday, Fife said the budget was an opportunity to "fix health care, to fix seniors care, to fix the crisis in housing, to get rid of the Premier Ford's low wage policy."

"Instead, we see future cuts to the things people need most and billions of dollars heading to his buddies on unnecessary and wasteful boondoggles," said Fife, who also slammed the budget for failing to include the word "autism," when lengthy wait times for therapy is an ongoing problem.

The core themes of the PC budget document include improving and expanding critical infrastructure, rebuilding the economy in the wake of COVID-19, helping families with the rising cost of living and ensuring the province is prepared for any further waves of the pandemic.

Because there is not enough time to pass the budget before the Legislature dissolves next week before the June election, the document serves as a costed platform for the PCs.

The budget includes two promises aimed specifically at Waterloo region: funding to plan an acute care facility shared between Grand River Hospital and St. Mary's General Hospital, and construction of the next phase of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph. 

As a municipal leader, North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton said she was heartened by those commitments. She was also glad the budget mentions an intent to move forward with the next stage of a program that expands access to natural gas — something her community has needed for years. 

"It's huge — we get calls all the time asking when it's going to come," Foxton told CBC News. 

Still, Foxton said she's learned from experience not to put too much stock in a pre-election budget. Ahead of the 2018 provincial election, Foxton said the Liberals had promised a transit pilot project in North Dumfries that never came to fruition after they were defeated by the PCs. 

"The real budget will probably be in the fall," she said. 

Whoever forms the next government, Foxton said her top priorities include access to two essential things: natural gas lines, and the internet. 

"We have to stop dancing around this and really make it an essential service," she said.