Ontario's $131.9-billion budget, which was introduced Thursday, is being met with criticism locally.
The Liberal government says there are no new taxes in the 2015 budget and it will not slash and burn to eliminate Ontario's $10.9-billion deficit.
Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Jeff Yurek says this is not true at all.
"(The Liberal government is) going to come out with their Ontario retirement plan, which is a tax to employers and people who are working. They're going to start pricing carbon, which is again a tax on people," says Yurek. "They have no plan to actually reign in spending and start making changes in the government to balance the budget."
The 2015 budget includes $11.9-billion to be spent on infrastructure for 2015-16, an extra $200-million for the jobs fund and $9-billion from the sale of 60% of Hydro One.
Yurek says the number one problem for Ontario residents is the energy rates, or ensuring health care in the province remains strong.
"They are going to go-ahead and sell off assets with regards to Hydro One, and that money isn't going to be put 100% towards to the debt," he says. "What's going to happen is the people of this province are going to have higher energy rates in order to service the debt that's going to be left over."
The province is also pledging to reach a balanced budget by 2017-18 with a current deficit of $10.9-billion. Yurek says it is unlikely the Ontario government will meet that goal.
"They still have another $8-billion to go within two more years and they haven't shown the willingness to control spending," he says. "You can only tax Ontarians so much and there's not that much money left to get."
However, Yurek does say he is pleased the budget addresses restarting the Connecting Link program, which will help improve roadway infrastructure between provincial highways. He says this will positively impact residents in the London-Middlesex area.
