Ontario Economic and Fiscal Outlook March 2020

On March 25, 2020, Finance Minister Rod Phillips released Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 (March 2020 Economic and Fiscal Update). In light of the COVID-19 pandemic this is more of a forecast of the impact of the pandemic and a first step in the government’s response to it.  $17 billion is being made available to support the health care system and people and businesses as they weather the impacts of COVID-19.

View the Minister’s Press Release.

OSOT has reviewed the Fiscal Outlook and collated those segments of the forecast that are of most interest to occupational therapists and OSOT.  View this summary.

Implications for Occupational Therapists

Ontario's healthcare budget remains the single largest budget within the comprehensive provincial budget.  Planned healthcare expenditures for 2020-21 are $64.6 billion.  As the province is in the midst of significant health system transformation, it will be interesting to see the impact of the pandemic on this agenda's timeline.  Occupational therapist working with children with autism will be pleased to see the ongoing commitment of $600 million to the new Ontario Autism Program.  Noticeably absent is specific reference to investment in mental health services or continuing auto insurance reform.  View summary.