Ontario's debt will grow to $350B in 4 years, warns financial watchdog

Ontario's financial watchdog warns the province's net debt will grow by another $50 billion to $350 billion in the next four years.

• Ontario can balance budget in 2017-18 after 9 straight deficits: fiscal watchdog

• Moody's upgrades Ontario's credit rating outlook to 'stable'

• Ontario 'on track' to eliminate deficit, finance minister says

The Financial Accountability Office says the net debt will keep growing largely because of the Liberal government's $160-billion, 12-year plan to invest in infrastructure and public transit projects.

The FAO says the debt will also grow because it predicts a return to annual budget deficits in 2018-19, even though the Liberals promised to balance the books next year.

This year's provincial budget forecast Ontario's net debt would hit $326.8 billion in 2018-19, which was as far out as its projections went, so the FAO's prediction of a $350 billion debt by 2020-21 is not a big stretch.

The FAO says Ontario's net debt "increased significantly" during the 2008-09 recession, and grew by $139 billion between then and 2015-16.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says the Liberals made a deliberate decision during the recession to stimulate economic growth, which he insists meant the downturn was not as deep or as long as it might otherwise have been.

The government is making capital investments to promote long-term growth, he added.

"We know that investing in infrastructure spurs economic growth and increases GDP, which is why we've decided to make a historic $160-billion investment in roads, bridges, schools and hospitals across Ontario," Sousa said in a statement.

"Through prudent debt management, we have consistently kept interest on debt costs below budget projections."

Interest on Ontario's debt is expected to be $11.75 billion this year and $12.45 billion in 2017-18, both lower than forecast in the 2015 budget.

On Monday, Ontario announced first quarter results showing 0.8 per cent growth, or three per cent on an annualized  basis, the strongest among all G7 countries.

"Ontario remains firmly committed to eliminating the deficit by 2017-18, and will do so in a way that is fair, equitable and protects the valuable programs and services that Ontarians rely on," Sousa said Tuesday.