A day after he delivered a balanced budget, Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan tried Wednesday to bury the hatchet with his federal counterpart Jim Flaherty over the management of the provincial economy.
"I think it's time to step away from the partisan rhetoric, to step away from the cameras and sit down and actually work out what ideas would work best for all Canadians," he told a breakfast meeting.
The 2008 Ontario budget features an immediate infusion of $1-billion in infrastructure spending, large investments in skills training, and a modest set of business income tax cuts in a bid to stave off the impact of a faltering economy in Ontario and south of the border.
Critics, including Mr. Flaherty, have demanded large cuts to Ontario's general corporate tax rate, which is one of the highest in Canada. Others suggest the government's growth assumptions are too optimistic.
Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan, with Premier Dalton McGuinty at his side, applaud after Mr. Duncan tabled the 2008 provincial budget Tuesday. (REUTERS/ Mike Cassese)
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What questions do you have about the budget? Are you concerned about Ontario's economy? What would you like to know about the government's plan?
Mr. Duncan will answer your questions online Thursday.
PLEASE NOTE: This is not one of our regular discussions, but a Q&A. Thank you to everyone who submitted questions before the morning cut-off.
Your questions and Mr. Duncan's replies are now posted at the bottom of this page.
Dwight Duncan was first elected to the Ontario legislature in 1995. He has held several senior cabinet portfolios, including minister of energy, chair of the management board of cabinet and government house leader.
Mr. Duncan is a lifelong resident of Windsor. From 1987 to 1995, he served as an administrator at Brentwood Recovery Centre, Canada's largest alcohol and drug recovery centre. He sat on Windsor City Council from 1988 to 1994.
A graduate of McGill University and the University of Windsor, Mr. Duncan has degrees in economics and commerce, as well as an MBA.
Editor's Note: globeandmail.com editors will read and allow or reject each question. Questions may be edited for length, clarity or relevance. HTML is not allowed. We will not publish questions that include personal attacks on participants in these discussions, that make false or unsubstantiated allegations, that purport to quote people or reports where the purported quote or fact cannot be easily verified, or questions that include vulgar language or libellous statements. Preference will be given to readers who submit questions/comments using their full name and home town, rather than a pseudonym.
Brodie Fenlon, globeandmail.com: Thank you very much for joining us, Minister. We had many questions for you, so I'll turn it over to our readers...
Michael B from Canada writes: Mr. Duncan. Given the aggressiveness and partisan nature of Mr. Flaherty's attacks, many of my fellow Ontario residents wonder why you and Mr. McGuinty have not brought up Mr. Flaherty's past as Finance Minister for Ontario? There are many skeletons in that closet ... Given how readily Mr. Flaherty decries your management skills, why not bring up the very relevant examples of his very recent failures to properly manage Ontario's economy? We are tired of listening to him rant with impunity.
Dwight Duncan: Michael, I think you are expressing some of the frustration felt by many Ontarians, who expect our leaders to work together. Minister Flaherty and I do have differences of opinion but we have an obligation to put partisan differences aside to find areas where we can work together.
Having said that, our government does have a different approach than the previous government when it comes to meeting the needs of Ontarians. It's no secret that the Progressive Conservative government in Ontario left behind a $5.5-billion deficit, which we inherited in 2003. We are on track to achieve three consecutive balanced budgets and post six consecutive balanced budgets between 2005-06 and 2010-11. And we've consistently exceeded our fiscal targets by being prudent and disciplined fiscal managers.
The previous government also borrowed money to finance tax cuts, which resulted in that huge deficit and at the same time, they were closing hospitals and firing nurses, and our education system was suffering. Our approach is different. We continue to make the right investments in health care and education. This budget also invests another $1-billion in new municipal infrastructure, which provides short-term jobs and improves long-term prosperity.
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