“The government is proposing to introduce and expand tax credits, but the budget doesn’t act on Premier Doug Ford’s 2018 election campaign promise to cut income taxes by 20 per cent. Instead, the Low-income Individuals and Families Tax (LIFT) credit is being expanded to support residents making an annual income up to $50,000. Eligibility was previously capped at $38,500. This is expected to cost $320-million a year and support an additional 700,000 people, with an average tax savings of $430. Also being proposed is a new tax credit to help seniors 70 and older pay for medical expenses. Under the new Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit, eligible recipients would receive up to 25 per cent of their medical expenses for a maximum credit of $1,500.”

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“OMA president Dr. Adam Kassam, for his part, noted that the budget is the last one before the June 2 provincial election and is time for the government to outline how it is going to deal with a backlog of care created during the pandemic. It should also explain how it plans to fix cracks in the health care system that deepened in the past two years, he said. Kassam said the OMA estimates there is a backlog of 21 million health-care services — including hip or knee replacements, cataract surgeries, X-rays, colonoscopies, ultrasounds and access to primary mental health-care services. […] But spending more money is not all that’s needed, he warned. ‘The province also needs health human resources — more doctors, personal support workers and other health-care professionals at a time when many are retiring or leaving the profession because of burnout exacerbated by working on the front lines of the pandemic.’”

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“As the third wave of the pandemic intensifies, the Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) appreciates the historic financial support for hospitals in the 2021 Ontario Budget. These investments will be vital to stabilizing the hospital sector for the duration of the pandemic and preparing for COVID-19 recovery.”

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“The Ontario Hospital Association (OHA) welcomes the government’s support for hospitals and the wider health care system in the 2020 Ontario Budget. […]The hospital sector is facing a potential forecast deficit of at least $2 billion in 20/21, primarily a result of their role in fighting the pandemic. Yesterday’s Budget directly acknowledges the significant financial pressure facing hospitals and reaffirms the government’s commitment to supporting them and stabilizing their financial position through the remainder of this fiscal year. As the fight against COVID-19 continues, the OHA appreciates the inclusion of dedicated health contingencies which will provide much-needed flexibility in the year ahead as the province responds to an evolving pandemic. These measures are vital in order to preserve access to all hospital services and maintain workforce stability.”

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“[A report from the Ontario Hospital Association] states that if the PC government doesn’t first address the severe budget and capacity pressures currently facing Ontario hospitals, it may actually worsen the hallway healthcare problem it has promised to eliminate.”

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