by Provincial Finance Minister Labi Kousoulis has unveiled a $12.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 with a projected deficit of $584.9 million.
Highlights of the new budget include a number of increases in health spending, including another $120 million for long-term care and home care, an extra $12.2 million to train doctors, another $19.2 million for mental health and addictions, and an extra $2 million to increase orthopedic surgeries.
The budget also includes another $35.2 million for income assistance, supporting a hundred dollar a month increase starting in May.
Kousoulis says the government is aiming to get the budget back to balance in four years but that plan will see the province taking on more debt.
The net debt is now pegged at about 18 billion dollars and is projected to grow to 21.2 billion by fiscal year 2024.