Ontario Ministry of Finance

<p>The Honourable Gordon Wyant, Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and the Honourable Troy Lifford, New Brunswick's Minister of Justice, today signed an agreement to join the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System. &nbsp;The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Finance, the Honourable Michael de Jong, British Columbia's Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister of Finance, welcomed their participation in the Cooperative...

<p>The provincial Ministers responsible for securities regulation in Saskatchewan, and New Brunswick have agreed to join the Ministers of Finance in British Columbia, Ontario and Canada to establish a Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System. Together, they invite Ministers responsible for securities regulation in all other provinces and territories to participate in the Cooperative System.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

The Honourable Gordon Wyant, Saskatchewan's Minister of Justice and Attorney General, and the Honourable Troy Lifford, New Brunswick's Minister of Justice, today signed an agreement to join the Cooperative Capital Markets Regulatory System.  The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Finance, the Honourable Michael de Jong, British Columbia's Minister of Finance, and the Honourable Charles Sousa, Ontario's Minister of Finance, welcomed their participation in the Cooperative System and repeated the invitation to all provinces and territories to join this important project. 

<p>Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance, will deliver the 2014 Ontario Budget on July 14, 2014 at&nbsp;approximately 4 p.m. in the Ontario Legislature.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Ontario has appointed a new judge to the Ontario Court of Justice, effective July 17, 2014.&nbsp;<strong></strong></p>

Ontario has published the interest rates for the 2014 series of Ontario Savings Bonds (OSBs), which are on sale today until June 21, 2014.

The government is moving forward with a 10-year plan for the economy focused on investing in people, building modern infrastructure, and supporting a dynamic and innovative business climate. These actions will build opportunity and security, and put the province's businesses and people in a position to create new jobs today.  

Ontario is improving the care of seniors in their homes and communities by investing in the recruitment and retention of personal support workers (PSWs).

The Ontario government is prepared to commit up to $1 billion to develop strategic all-season industrial and community transportation infrastructure in the Ring of Fire.  

Ontario is encouraging industrial growth and job creation by expanding eligibility for two existing industrial electricity programs and enhancing conservation programs for small businesses. 

Ontario intends to take the Debt Retirement Charge (DRC) off residential electricity bills, saving the typical homeowner $5.60 per month, after Dec. 31, 2015.

A new research paper released today by David Dodge, former Governor of the Bank of Canada, and Richard Dion, Senior Business Advisor at Bennett Jones LLP, stresses that Canadian households need to save more now to support future economic growth and maintain a satisfactory standard of living in retirement. 

Ontario will continue to invest in its most valuable people, its children, giving them the best possible start in life.

Ontario's Auto Insurance Cost and Rate Reduction Strategy is continuing to make auto insurance more affordable for Ontario drivers, as rates approved by the regulator have dropped for a total decrease of almost six per cent on average since August 2013 -- in keeping with the government's target of 15 per cent by August 2015.

The Ontario government has appointed a council to recommend ways to improve the efficiency and optimize the full value of Hydro One, Ontario Power Generation (OPG), and the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO). The Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets will examine how to get the most out of key government assets to generate better returns and revenues for Ontarians.

Ontario plans to eliminate waitlists for direct funding for 21,000 people with developmental disabilities.

Ontario plans to increase investments to community health infrastructure by $60 million over the next three years to ensure access to high-quality health services in communities across the province.

Ontario is expanding and enhancing its Student Nutrition Program so that 56,000 more children and youth will get the nutritional boost they need to succeed at school.

Ontario is proposing to help more seniors stay connected to their community by doubling the Seniors Community Grant Program, the province's first grant program dedicated solely to seniors. 

Ontario's new deficit for 2013-14 is estimated to be $11.3 billion -- a $400 million improvement compared with the 2013 budget. This marks the fifth year in a row that the province is on track for a deficit lower than forecast.