May 14th, 2014

New Minister of Savings and Accountability will be dedicated to finding 0.5% budget savings annually

QUEEN’S PARK  Andrea Horwath, Leader of Ontario’s New Democrats, committed to respecting taxpayers with a plan to appoint a Cabinet Minister responsible for Savings and Accountability, whose role will be finding additional savings worth 0.5% of Ontario’s budget annually.

“There are a lot of people in government dedicated to spending the dollars. I want a key member of my team who’s dedicated to counting the pennies,” said Horwath. “As Premier I will appoint a Minister of Savings and Accountability, who will be responsible to deliver savings and put an end to wasteful spending.”

“Ontarians are tired of seeing their hard-earned tax dollars wasted on unnecessary government spending without any oversight or accountability. The NDP will respect tax dollars and ensure every penny spent is delivering results for Ontarians,” said Horwath.

The new Minister will be responsible for finding an additional 0.5% of savings in the provincial budget annually. The Minister will be responsible for meeting savings targets and providing oversight to government departments.

“Shrinking the number of cabinet ministers, reducing duplication in government agencies, and capping CEO salaries are all achievable steps that respect Ontarians' tax dollars. It’s time for real accountability and a government that will stand up for the priorities that matter most to you and your family.”