THREAD: Let’s break down the claim by the Ford government that it is devoting $17B in new money on the response to #COVID19 ... because that isn’t actually true. 
The bulk of the $17B is $10B in deferrals of business taxes and @WSIB premiums. It’s not “spending” and it’s also not revenue the province will forego forever. In fact, Finance Ministry officials confirmed the province still expects to collect that revenue later this fiscal year
Govt claims $1.5B in “new spending” on electricity cost relief. It’s not actually new, as total hydro subsidy is $5.6B, roughly what was spent in 2019-20. It’s only “new” compared to what was *budgeted* for 2019-20. And ... it’s not because of #COVID19
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
The govt is spending $3.3B extra on health care this year but $1.2B of that is the annual increase for rising health system costs due to the aging and growing population. That leaves $2.1B for the Ontario health system’s specific needs for #COVID19
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
There is $2B in direct support for individuals, businesses, municipalities and social service agencies specifically related to #COVID19. This includes the one-time payment of $200 per child under 12.
So the more accurate figure of Ontario’s actual new spending directly related to #COVID19 is $4.1B
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…
Don’t just take my word for it. Here’s the @TorontoStar’s analysis of the Ford government’s #COVID19 spending thestar.com/opinion/editor…
