The Ontario government has opened its annual pre-budget consultation process for organizations to provide input on how the province should allocate public funds in the next fiscal year.
Two separate opportunities for public submissions are currently underway.
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs is seeking people who wish to be considered to make oral presentations or written submissions regarding the 2020-21 budget. Oral presentations will be made during public hearings set for Toronto (Jan. 17), Sioux Lookout (Jan. 20), Thunder Bay (Jan. 21), Belleville (Jan. 22), Kitchener-Waterloo (Jan. 23) and Niagara (Jan. 24). Expressions of interest to make oral presentations are due by Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m., while written submissions will be accepted by email at comm-financeaffairs@ola.org until Friday, Jan. 24 at 6 p.m.
Additionally, Minister of Finance Rod Phillips and parliamentary assistant Stan Cho are hosting in-person community budget consultations (locations to be determined) along with local MPPs across the province until Feb. 11. Interested parties may submit input by completing an online survey, emailing a written submission to submissions@ontario.ca, or attending an in-person session. Learn more about the process or find contact information to learn when and where your local consultation will be held here.
Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division welcomes the opportunity each year to provide its advice on the provincial budget from a mental health and addictions perspective, and looks forward to taking part in consultations again this year. Several of CMHA Ontario’s recommendations from its 2019 pre-budget submission were incorporated into the 2019 provincial budget. Read our 2019 submission here.