The Ontario budget is out and there were major funding announcements made in areas like health care, education and child care.
Minister of Finance Charles Sousa notes they are investing $11.5-billion into health care over the next 3 years.
Included in the health care funding was the announcement of a new program that covers all prescription costs for anyone 24 and under regardless of family income.
The province will also spend an additional $9-billion over the next decade to support the construction of new hospital projects, and raise operating hospital funding by 3%.
The government announced new changes to OSAP which includes expanding eligibility to mature students to allow for free tuition for more than 210,000 College and University students.
Also new this year, post-secondary students won’t need to pay back student loans until they’re earning at least $35,000 a year.
A new Career Kick-Start program to the tune of $190-million over three years, offers high school and post-secondary students co-op programs and other training opportunities designed to prepare them for the workforce.
Full day kindergarten classes are now to be capped at 30 students by 2017-18 and then 29 by 2018-19.
The Wynne government is promising $200-million to create new child care spaces.
Sousa says 24,000 children will benefit and stresses the support will reduce wait lists.
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Min. @SousaCharles has released the balanced 2017 Ontario Budget. #ONBudget https://t.co/pRyOfbtAGD pic.twitter.com/DdtuQ5FAhY
— Ministry of Finance (@ONfinance) April 27, 2017