Business poised to prosper: Treasury Board
Ontario Treasury Board president Peter Bethlenfalvy said Niagara is poised to reap the benefits as the provincial government clears the way for economic development.
“I’m very excited about the opportunities in Niagara,” said Bethlenfalvy, who was in Niagara-on-the-Lake Friday to deliver the keynote address during the Niagara Economic Summit, presented by the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce.
He told the crowd of about 320 business representatives and community leaders that although the province “can’t create jobs,” it can create conditions to allow private enterprise to prosper.
“Government can set the conditions. Cutting red tape significantly will help. That’s what I hear more from businesses than anything else, do no harm and get out of the way,” said Bethlenfalvy, MPP for Pickering-Uxbridge.
He said “there are a lot of unnecessary regulations” that can be eliminated to help businesses prosper, although it’s “paramount” that regulations that pertain to health and safety issues are retained.
Niagara, he added, is “very well positioned for the job growth” that he expects to continue, in addition to the 272,000 jobs that have already been created by businesses throughout the province in the past year.
“You have an outstanding education system, you have Brock University and Niagara College here, you have a workforce of about a million people within 50 kilometres, you have a gateway to our largest trading partners … a competitive advantage in a number of areas,” he said.
Meanwhile, despite repeated criticism about the impact government social funding cuts are having, Bethlenfalvy told the audience savings realized through fiscal policies the province has introduced are being reinvested in social programs.
“I’m very proud of some of the investments and increase in education, not withstanding what others might say,” he said.
“If you look at the facts, we’ve put $40 million into mental health for schools. That’s doubling the funding from the previous administration.”
He listed several other areas where the province plans enhanced funding, such as school repairs, teacher professional development, curriculum enhancements, plus additional health care funding.
“But my point was that you can’t just keep spending more than you’re taking in in perpetuity if you really want to have sustainability, for whether it’s autism funding or for social programs, or for education or health care.”’
Bethlenfalvy was one of 26 delegates who participated as panelists or speakers during the summit.