At this time of the year, we are bombarded with television, radio and newspaper advertisements encouraging us to donate to good causes that can help the poor, give an impoverished child a present for Christmas or ensure a senior is warm in their home. No matter the circumstances, a lot of us help out these non-profits or give a homeless person some dough.
Well, you can add one more entity to the list of those seeking assistance from the general public: the Government of Ontario.
That’s right! The Ontario government is putting its hands out, pleading with Ontarians to donate their tax returns that would be put towards the debt accumulated by Queen’s Park.
Just how much is the debt? Just under $300 billion. A government that is under a few active criminal investigations, a government that has wasted tens of billions of dollars over the past decade for political decisions and returning favors, a government that is alleged to have tampered with a by-election is asking you to help bail it out.
Deb Matthews, Ontario deputy premier to Kathleen Wynne and chair of the government’s treasury board, is urging everyone to contribute to the Ontario Opportunities Fund. This program was launched in the 1990s by former Progressive Conservative Premier Mike Harris, who had to start it because of skyrocketing debt from the previous New Democratic Party Premier Bob Rae.
Since then, the fund has generated $2.8 million from around 35,000 donors. Last year alone, 1,461 Ontarians doled out more than $135,000.
“It’s an unusual thing for someone to do, but I would encourage any Ontarian who wants to make a contribution to feel free to do so,” said Matthews, who did not confirm whether or not she’d be contributing to the fund also.
The debt is proving to be immense for the once economic powerhouse of the country. The interest on the debt is the government’s third biggest expenditure with $11.4 billion, behind healthcare ($50.8 billion) and education ($25.2 billion).
What will this Ontario government think of next? Despite its financial blunders, criminal investigations and dubious policies, the Liberal Party of Ontario has been elected three times (two of them a majority and one of them close to a majority) in the last decade. There’s no reason to think the opposite will happen in 2018.
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