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Jim Flaherty v. Ontario

Shortly after debate on the federal budget began yesterday, Jim Flaherty decided to take a swipe at the Ontario government.

The reality is that we have not reduced transfers for health. In fact, if the member wants to pay attention to what is going on in this country, he can look at the budgets of New Brunswick, Ontario, British Columbia and others that have been released in the past few weeks. He will see that every one of the provinces are planning spending increases for health care of less than 6% and, unbelievably, 2.1%, and it really is unbelievable because the province will be unable to do it, in Ontario.

After Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan cast doubt on the Harper government’s management, Mr. Flaherty apparently woke up this morning and felt the need to expand on his concerns.

“I’m waiting for the Ontario government to grow up quite frankly,” Flaherty said. “This is a sad government, badly mismanaged now for almost nine years. The result is the rating agencies around the world are looking at the Ontario government and going ‘actually, we don’t even trust your credit-worthiness.’ “

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