Ford's spending freeze leaves some critical services in limbo

Today's ominous re-announcement of a spending freeze by the Doug Ford Conservatives has left people worried about which services are being cut, as organizations like sexual assault centres and child care centres wonder if funding they were counting on won't ever come.

The Ford government announced Tuesday, as part of it's third quarter update, that it "has directed all ministries to limit spending to commitments under contract, legislation and/or requirements to fulfil core services up to March 31, 2019. Ministries are also directed to not enter into any new funding commitments, including spending from within their allocation, unless the ministry has sought and received specific direction to do so from the Treasury Board."

NDP Finance critic Sandy Shaw is asking what Doug Ford considers "core services."

“There are organizations waiting for funding that they were promised — like the money that subsidizes child care," said Shaw. "Doug Ford needs to be very clear about what's on the chopping block. Ontario families deserve answers."

Shaw said that Ford continues to manufacture deficit figures to justify deep cuts to vital services Ontario families depend on. The $13.5 billion deficit figure Finance Minister Vic Fedeli claimed on Tuesday doesn't match figures presented by Ontario’s Financial Accountability Officer.

“Doug Ford continues to make stuff up to lay the groundwork for deep cuts to public services," said Shaw "He's given the very wealthiest among us a substantial tax break and he's blowing millions on gravy train appointments — then telling everyday families that the cupboards are bare, and that they'll have to make sacrifices, and get less from the government.

"Ontario families deserve more from the government, not less."