Ontario budget 2016: How is your pocket book affected?
Andrea Janus | CBC News | Posted: February 25, 2016 9:36 PM | Last Updated: February 25, 2016
Following last week’s move to bring wine sales to grocery stores, the cost of wine is set to go up
With talk of budget deficits and cap-and-trade systems, the average Ontarian may wonder what the 2016 budget means for their daily lives.
- Low-income seniors, students get relief in Ontario's new budget
- Liberals pitch grant to cover average tuition for low-income students
- More seniors to qualify for low-income drug program
What goes up
- Effective Friday, taxes will increase from 13.975 cents to 15.475 cents per cigarette, or $3 per carton.
- Effective in June, the LCBO will be allowed to increase its mark-up on wine by two percentage points. It will go up another two percentage points in April 2017, another two percentage points in April 2018, and one percentage point in April 2019.
- The basic tax on non-Ontario wine bought at winery retail stores will go up by one percentage point annually, starting this June and then through to April 2019.
- The minimum retail price for a 750 ml bottle of table wine will increase to $7.95, including deposit, which will be phased in over three years.
- The cost of putting Junior into hockey with the elimination of the Children's Activity Tax Credit, a move that will save the government $15 million this fiscal year, $50 million in 2017-18 and $55 million in 2018-19.
What goes down
- The $30 fee drivers must pay when they get their car tested under Ontario's Drive Clean program is being eliminated.
- Senior citizens between the ages of 65 and 70 will no longer have to pay for the shingles vaccine, a savings for these residents of about $170.
- Hospital parking fees: hospitals that charge more than $10 per day in parking fees will be required to offer a 50 per cent discount on multiple-use passes to frequent visitors. (Note: previously announced.)