Hastings-Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee said he is pleased by what was presented in Ontario’s 2026 budget this week.
He said the biggest headline for the budget is likely the removal of the full 13 per cent HST for eligible buyers of new homes.
Bresee also said he thinks cutting the small business corporate income tax to 2.2 per cent — which will apply to businesses who make under $500,000 in a year – will benefit local small businesses that support the local economy, sports and charities.
The province is expanding investments in the Primary Care Action Plan, which Bresee said helped 300,000 people become rostered with a primary care provider last year.
The Primary Care Action Plan has helped support the establishment of a new indigenous primary care team in Bancroft, and Bresee said they’ve seen development in the southern part of the county as well.
The province is projecting a deficit of $12.3 billion this fiscal year, jumping to $13.8 billion in 2026-27.
Bresee said though he is a fiscal conservative who believes in spending within means, he thinks this budget lays out investments that will be of benefit in the long term.
“If we have to use borrowed money, I’m happy to use money that we can pay off over the next few years, as long as the asset will actually last longer,” he said
Debate over the budget will begin in the legislative assembly in the coming weeks.
The opposition New Democrats have given the province a failing grade. The NDP said the budget does nothing for renters or grocery prices, and cuts funding to education, housing, and job creation and training.
The MPPs returned to the legislative assembly this week, and Bresee says he’s expecting an extensive agenda of bills to be discussed coming up.
