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<\/p>\nOntario\u2019s finance minister is expressing concerns about the rate of health-care spending in the province, calling the current $91.5-billion budget both \u201cunprecedented\u201d and \u201cunsustainable.\u201d<\/p>\n
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When Peter Bethlenfalvy addressed the Mississauga Board of Trade in January, he outlined some of the issues that appear to be weighing on his mind as he crafts the upcoming budget set to be delivered in late March.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in unprecedented territory in terms of the concerns of people. People are scared, they\u2019re worried, they are concerned,\u201d Bethlenfalvy said of the current geopolitical and economic climate fuelled, in part, by U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Bethlenfalvy warned that the province was facing a \u201cbig headwind, on top of the uncertainty\u201d that threatens to squeeze Ontario even further.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe economic environment is slowing down, there\u2019s just no question,\u201d the minister said. \u201cWe\u2019re growing at the slowest rate we\u2019ve grown post-COVID.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Adding to the GDP concerns, the finance minister pointed out that \u201cflattening\u201d population growth is another factor his department is closely watching as it decides how to allocate billions in spending.<\/p>\n
\u201cEighty-five per cent of the spending in the budget is actually for social spending. About 15 per cent is for infrastructure and the economy,\u201d Bethlenfalvy explained.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have a slowing population and a slowing economic growth and a trajectory of social spending that\u2019s been, frankly, unprecedented. So we\u2019re going to have to manage that challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Later, during a fireside chat, the minister put it more clearly: \u201cOur health-care spending is unsustainable. We just have to deal with reality that we can\u2019t keep spending, particularly when our population is flattening.\u201d<\/p>\n
The comments come at a time when hospitals warned the government they are facing a billion-dollar structural deficit and are now preparing for \u201cdifficult decisions\u201d unless the Ford government increases health-care funding in its upcoming budget.<\/p>\n
The Ontario Hospital Association said health-care costs have risen by six per cent a year, largely due to a growing and aging population and inflation, forcing health-care institutions to erode their capital and borrow money to stay afloat.<\/p>\n
Rob Cerjanec, a Liberal MPP from Ajax, said the finance minister\u2019s comments are \u201cincredibly concerning,\u201d especially for residents who want assurances that health care will be available when needed.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhen we hear a minister of finance talking about health-care spending being unsustainable, I mean that could be the difference between life or death for somebody,\u201d Cerjanec said.<\/p>\n
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