Harris says provincial budget will unleash Ontario’s economy

Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris. Contributed Photo

By Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2025 Ontario Budget last week, and the Conservative MPP representing Kitchener-Conestoga is preaching its benefits.

“I am extremely pleased that Ontario has presented a budget that continues to protect and support our economy while investing in the necessary infrastructure for the residents of Waterloo Region,” said Harris. “Budget 2025 demonstrates a clear plan in response to current unprecedented threats to Ontarians by unlocking our economic potential and making targeted progress toward building a resilient and prosperous future for our province.”

Much of the criticism surrounding the budget, mainly from prudent Conservatives, is the high amount of spending, and Ontario’s 2024-2025 deficit – projected to be $6 billion. In 2025-2026, the deficit is forecast to be $14.6 billion, followed by $7.8 billion in 2026-2027. Ontario then predicts a small surplus in 2027-2028, a year later than planned.

Harris said he is a fiscally responsible party member, but explained people need to look at the situations faced by his government over the last few years.

“We had a global pandemic where we were so uncertain about what the future held and we had to make sure we supported individuals, families and workers, which we did. The last couple of budgets have been a little more prudent, and now with everything going on south of the border and in this part of southern Ontario, we are the manufacturing hotbed of the province.”

Harris added the Waterloo Region alone has between $15 billion and $20 billion worth of trade with the United States, one of the top regions in Canada, and Ontario needs to do as much as it can to keep jobs here.

“And not only keep investment here but also ensure those jobs are stable and, God forbid, if people get laid off or do lose their job, we have funding out there to help them retrain. We need programs out there to help them find new employment. We need to do everything we can to make sure families are able to stay together and remain stable.”

In 1999, then Premier Mike Harris, the MPP's father, balanced the budget in his second term as head of the provincial government.

Harris Jr. explained the province may be planning on spending more money but added it comes at a lower cost to the taxpayer.

“We are able to borrow right now at the lowest rates I believe we have been able to borrow at, I believe, in the neighbourhood of 20-25 years. It makes a huge difference when we are looking at our debt, we don’t have the interest on it we used to have when the Liberals were in power.”

Harris Jr. admitted some people don’t feel his government is being fiscally prudent but explained the goal is to protect Ontario and the people living here.

The Gazette asked Harris what he would say to Wilmot Township and surrounding residents on what could make a difference for them as a result of the 2025 budget. His answer was the biggest parts are around infrastructure and homebuilding.

“When we look at the money being set aside to further the housing-enabling water infrastructure funds and critical infrastructure funds, this is something small municipalities across the province have been asking for, for a long time. They want to be able to grow sustainably, but they also want to try and keep taxes as low as they can.”

Harris Jr. is well aware of the financial pressures Wilmot Township is under and explained part of the reason is it hasn’t been able to access funds to partner with the province.

“There is a lot in this budget that will help with that. For them to be able to build roads, bridges, sewer and water infrastructure is a big piece of what rural municipalities are looking for, and I am happy to see it in this budget.”

No one from Wilmot Township was available for comment by press time.

The province said the document includes measures to protect Ontario workers, businesses and jobs in the face of U.S. tariffs and continued economic uncertainty, with a plan to build an economy that is more resilient and self-reliant.

The province said its finances are in the strongest position they have been in over a decade, reflected by two credit-rating upgrades the province received in 2024.

“Our government is delivering on our mandate to protect Ontario and help workers and businesses weather the storm while creating the long-term foundations for a strong, resilient and competitive economy,” said Bethlenfalvy in a press release. “We’re making the investments in workers, infrastructure and services that will protect Ontario, no matter what.”