Waterloo Region leaders react to Ontario budget

The Ontario Liberal government tabled their $127-billion provincial budget on Thursday.

The budget is built around six key themes was aimed at creating "a prosperous and fair Ontario," including increased funding for home care, a youth jobs strategy, a $200 monthly exemption for people on social assistance, changes to employer payroll tax plans, and more HOV lanes on 401 series highways, among other things.

We asked local leaders for their takes on the budget:

Mayor Doug Craig, Cambridge

"In terms of the HOV lanes I think it’s a small step dealing with transit issues. The major issue for this region in terms of transit is bringing GO Train into Cambridge, which is much faster than the northern route into Kitchener and will serve all of Cambridge and south Kitchener."

Mayor Carl Zehr, Kitchener

"Anything that can be done to increase the GO service here, between Toronto and the region, will help to ease the Toronto gridlock. So it’s a mutual benefit for Metrolinx to keep including this region in its plans."

Mayor Brenda Halloran, Waterloo

"There’s no specific discussion in the budget on interest arbitration. And the help that municipal governments are asking for to have it reviewed, and the municipalities’ ability to pay some of the decisions that are coming through the interest arbitration system."

Chair Ken Seiling, Waterloo Region

"I think that one of the common complaints is that when people start to earn money, even limited amounts of money, it gets cut off from their social services payments. People have felt that it’s been an impediment to actually getting out and finding work, this way they’re able to keep some of the money, improve their standard of living at the same not be discouraged from moving into the job market."