Ontario Budget 2013

At just under $10 billion, the deficit for 2012–13 is $5 billion better than expected—however, much of this improvement was the result of one-time measures that will not carry forward.

The Ontario government will keep a tight lid on spending in order to achieve a balanced budget by 2017–18. This will be a challenge given the continued pressures on health care spending and rising debt-servicing costs.

The budget introduces a few conciliatory measures aimed at garnering support from the opposition parties.