The Ontario government’s fall budget is currently being debated and next week it will likely be passed, as is.
That would be a disaster. In fact, it would be a good example of “disaster capitalism.”
Naomi Klein popularized that term to describe instances of governments using the chaos and uncertainty of disasters to quietly usher in policies and measures that restructure societies to the benefit of the wealthiest and at the expense of the rest of us.
That’s exactly what the Ford Conservatives are practicing with this budget.
Much has been said about the amount of money they’re supposedly spending. But let’s take a closer look at what the budget actually says.
When we factor in inflation and population growth, base funding will decrease for education at all levels, social services, and municipalities. Funding for health care, the program area that sees the most support in this budget, will in effect be flatlined.
That means personal support workers and staff in long-term care aren’t seeing additional funding in this budget to ensure four-hours of direct, hands on care. Nor will they see any additional funding for compliance inspectors who help protect residents.
That means education workers who protect our schools, keeping them safe and clean while supporting students’ learning, will see no new pandemic funding to reduce class sizes or improve ventilation.
That means no support for Ontario’s universities, whose workers are critical to our economic recovery, even though they are dealing with both extra COVID-19 expenditures and decreased revenue due to the loss of international students.
That means social service workers — supporting Ontarians in child-care centres, child protection agencies, developmental services, and community agencies which have been underfunded for years — will not see the permanent funding supports needed to help Ontarians recover.
On a daily basis, Premier Ford holds a press conference to deliver his message. He tells us that he won’t hesitate to do whatever it takes to support Ontarians. He convinces a lot of people that his government has met the challenge of this crisis — and is spending the resources to keep us safe and to ensure a recovery for all.
But it’s simply untrue. The fact is that this budget is a case of Disaster Capitalism. This government is using the health and economic crisis to gut the public sector and cater to the already wealthy.
The Ford Conservatives’ budget includes significant and permanent tax cuts for, primarily, business and industry. These aren’t relief programs targeted at the small businesses most severely hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.
No, we’re talking about permanent reductions that will even benefit corporations, like Walmart, who have only increased their profits during the pandemic.
The government is also handing over money to large industrial and commercial businesses with increased electricity subsidies. This means that companies like Loblaws and Amazon, which have reported record profits during the pandemic, are getting government money to pay their hydro bills. Electricity subsidies now cost taxpayers more than $6 billion a year.
Coupled with the more than $3 billion in tax cuts handed out in the 2019 budget, and the years of record-low corporate taxes, what we’re actually seeing in this budget looks more like just another chapter in a long, ongoing, systematic heist of Ontario’s collective resources.
We are witnessing more corporate giveaways that have robbed Ontario of the revenue needed to support front-line public services that everyday people rely on — before, during, and after this pandemic passes.
A disaster like the COVID-19 pandemic is bad enough. We don’t need governments that are supposed to represent all of us capitalizing on the crisis to benefit the wealthiest.
Recent Comments
Great blog here! Also your site loads up very fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
My issues have been very similar, with my family. But, we made some different decisions. It’s complex.
These are some of the most important issues we’ll face over the next few decades.
I appreciate your work, thanks for all the great blog posts.
I have to say this post was certainly informative and contains useful content for enthusiastic visitors. I will definitely bookmark this website for future reference and further viewing. cheers a bunch for sharing this with us!
Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like you wrote the book in it or something. I think that you can do with some pics to drive the message home a bit, but other than that, this is wonderful blog. A great read. I’ll certainly be back.
Thank you for the auspicious writeup.
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all people you really recognize what you are talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also seek advice from my web site =). We can have a link alternate contract between us!
I’m so happy to read this. This is the type of manual that needs to be given and not the random misinformation that’s at the other blogs. Appreciate your sharing this best doc.
Amazing article, cheers, I will bookmark you now.
Can I just say what a relief to seek out someone who actually knows what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know find out how to bring a problem to mild and make it important. Extra individuals have to read this and perceive this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more in style because you positively have the gift.
Have you given any kind of thought at all with converting your current web-site into French? I know a couple of of translaters here that will would certainly help you do it for no cost if you want to get in touch with me personally.
Wish I’d thought of this. Am in the field, but I procrastinate alot and haven’t written as much as I’d like. Thanks.
This contained some excellent tips and tools. Great blog publication.
Do you offer workshops?
This is one very informative blog. I like the way you write and I will bookmark your blog to my favorites.
Aktualny przegląd promocji na 2026 rok obejmuje kasyna online, które oferują bonus bez depozytu w formie darmowych spinów, dodatkowych środków lub pakietu łączonego. Pokazujemy, jak aktywować ofertę, jakie wymagania obrotu trzeba spełnić oraz które limity wypłat warto sprawdzić przed rozpoczęciem gry. Bonus bez depozytu za utworzenie konta pozostaje jedną z najpopularniejszych promocji w kasynach online. Pozwala nowym użytkownikom przetestować platformę, dostępne gry kasynowe oraz obsługę konta bez konieczności dokonywania pierwszej wpłaty. Przygotowując ranking najlepszych kasyn z bonusami bez depozytu 2026, porównaliśmy aktualne propozycje operatorów, w tym oferty Roman Casino i NV Casino.
How long does it take you to write an article like this?
Awesome post. It’s so good to see someone taking the time to share this information
Makes sense to me.