Ontario politicians will table their proposed 2021 budget Wednesday afternoon, which will outline their plans for relief spending as the pandemic stretches into its second year.
The document is expected to be released shortly after 4 pm.
“It is our government’s second pandemic budget and next step in our plan to protect people’s health and support our economy,” Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy said at a news conference Tuesday.
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The 2021 budget is expected to run at a deficit as Ontario continues to combat economic woes caused by COVID-19.
Massive spending on pandemic supports for healthcare, long-term care, seniors, schools, and certain hard-hit sectors resulted in a $38.5 billion deficit for the last budget, released in November 2020.
Ontario is projected to spend $25 billion more this year than last year due to COVID-19 relief, according to a February provincial report on finances.
Bethlenfalvy gave a preview of one line in the budget on Tuesday when he announced $3.7 million would be earmarked to help seniors and people with disabilities access transportation to get to their COVID-19 vaccination appointments.
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