Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province is flowing COVID-19 funds as quickly as it can amid a report by the province’s Financial Accountability Office pointing to $6.7 billion in unallocated pandemic fighting funds.
The Ontario NDP issued a news release on Sept. 10, stating that "Doug Ford is sitting on $6.7 billion in money he promised to use to fight COVID-19."
"That money could be used to stop the spread of the virus — from ensuring kids are safer in schools to getting hospitals ready for a second wave — but Ford is choosing to horde it to help his bottom line, instead," said the news release from the NDP.
When asked about the funds on Sept. 10 during a press conference in Sudbury, Ford said the province is flowing COVID-19 funds as quickly as it can, and that he had not yet seen the FAO report.
"We're flowing it as quickly as possible and I'll be able to get the exact figures because as soon as we get it we start flowing the funds," said Ford.
"I don't have the exact answer because I haven't seen that. I guess it came out this morning, but I've told each ministry as soon as you get those funds you start flowing it right to the people that need it most."
The NDP news release said that the $6.7 billion in remaining unallocated provincial funds includes $3.5 billion in cash transfers from the federal government.
"Because Ontario isn’t spending the money it promised to, COVID-19 spending for Ontarians has, so far, been 97 per cent provided by the federal government and just three per cent by the provincial government," said the news release.
“Doug Ford never believed in investing in schools, hospitals, long-term care homes and public health. Those are all things he was cutting and squeezing before the pandemic,” said Catherine Fife, Ontario NDP critic for Economic Growth and Job Creation.
“Now, he’s quietly squirrelling away money meant for those things. This premier just doesn’t believe it’s his job to make education and health care better.”
In its first quarter fiscal update last month, the province announced that they have increased:
- Health contingency by $4.3 billion.
- Support for people and jobs fund by $3 billion.
- Standard contingency fund is also set at $2.2 billion.
“Our government is planning for this uncertain future with a historic level of prudence in order to respond to whatever challenges may come our way," said Christine Wood, a spokesperson for the office of the Premier in an email to Sudbury.com.
"In its report, the FAO fails to mention that the $6.7 billion estimate in unallocated funds is meant to span the entire fiscal year and the Province is only in its second quarter. Our government remains committed to spending these funds as the need arises.
"The Premier has been clear: we will continue to put the health and safety of the people of Ontario first, and have the funds ready to do so."
