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Here's a list of cuts and program changes the Ford government has backtracked on

The Ontario government's decision to reverse funding cuts to a child benefit program and the province's children's aid societies marks the latest in a series of instances in which Premier Doug Ford's or his ministers have backtracked on previous announcements.

Hamilton LRT, legal aid funding cuts and e-learning quotas the latest in series of reversals

The Canadian Press ·
Ontario Premier Doug Ford or his ministers have backtracked on several funding cut announcements, most recently those to a child benefit program and the province's children's aid societies. (Cole Burston/The Canadian Press)

The Ontario government's decision to reverse funding cuts to a child benefit program and the province's children's aid societies marks the latest in a series of instances in which Premier Doug Ford's or his ministers have backtracked on previous announcements.

Below is a list of other decisions the Progressive Conservatives have walked back:

Hamilton LRT

The Progressive Conservatives promised during the election to fund the light-rail transit project, but in December the
transportation minister announced that would no longer happen, citing rising cost estimates.

Legal aid 

The 2019 budget cut that year's funding for Legal Aid Ontario by $133 million — or 30 per cent — and planned $31 million in further cuts over the next two years. Eight months later, the government announced it was cancelling those future cuts.

E-learning and class sizes 

The government angered teachers in March when it announced it was increasing average high school class sizes from 22 to 28, and mandating that students take four online courses to graduate. In the context of difficult negotiations with the education unions, the education minister has offered to walk that class size target back to 25, and announced that students will now instead be required to take two online courses to graduate.

Subway upload 

Ford promised during the 2018 election to upload Toronto's subway system to help leverage the province's financial and planning powers to build transit infrastructure faster. The province has now announced it will not take control of the subway system, in exchange for the city's support of the province's transit plan.

Transition Child Benefit 

The government had planned to stop the benefit as of Nov. 1, but has now decided to continue it as the province reviews its social assistance programs. The benefit provides up to $230 a month for low-income families not receiving other child benefits.

Children's Aid Society funding

The government's spending estimates for this fiscal year had showed a $28-million cut to funding for children's aid societies, but has now decided to maintain the same funding model as last year. 

Autism

In February, the government announced a revamp of the Ontario Autism Program. It was framed as a way to clear a massive waiting list for services, but would have given families a relatively small amount of money based on their income, not the needs of their child. It also would have effectively cut off thousands of kids currently in government-funded therapy.

After a loud and sustained outcry, the government announced a reversal, saying it was going back to the drawing board on a needs-based program and would double the current budget.

Public health 

Mayors across the province banded together to fight retroactive cuts to public health funding, and the government ultimately relented.

Doug Ford reverses millions in cuts to Ontario municipalities

6 years ago
Duration 3:24
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has reversed himself on millions of dollars in cuts to municipalities after a growing backlash turned the tide against his Tory government.
The cuts, in the form of a new cost-sharing arrangement, will mostly go ahead in 2020, but the mid-year cuts that would have taken effect after municipalities had already passed their budgets were cancelled. 

Child care 

Municipalities will still have to pay 20 per cent of the cost of creating new child-care spaces — which the province previously fully funded — as announced at the same time as the public health cuts. But the government backed off somewhat on other elements of child-care funding cuts, delaying some to 2021 and others to 2022.

French university 

As part of the government's efforts to balance the books, it announced last fall that it was cancelling plans for a French-language university. The move sparked an outcry among Franco-Ontarians and prompted a Progressive Conservative caucus member to quit. In September, Ontario and the federal government announced they had reached an agreement on jointly funding a French-language university. 

Appointments 

Ford revoked two appointments for agents-general positions in London and New York City. One person was reported to be related to Ford's then-chief of staff, Dean French, and it emerged  that the other played lacrosse with French's son. 

Greenbelt

Ontario announced in January that it would not move forward with a controversial element of proposed legislation that could have opened up the province's protected Greenbelt to development. 

Size of cabinet 

When Doug Ford came to power he cut the size of the cabinet to 21 people, down from 29 under former premier Kathleen Wynne. In a cabinet shuffle this summer, he added several new portfolios, bringing the size to 28. 

 

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