Ford: ‘These are unprecedented times ... We will spend whatever it takes,’

Here are the highlights of Ontario Finance Minister Rod Phillips’ record $174.3-billion spending plan tabled Wednesday at Queen’s Park to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic:

> Doubling of the annual deficit to $20.5 billion.

> Up to $10 billion in tax deferrals, including $6 billion in deferred taxes for 100,000 businesses, $1.9 billion in WSIB premium deferrals and $1.8 billion in deferred municipal education property tax payments.

> Suspending Ontario Student Assistance Plan (OSAP) repayments for six months.

> One-time payments to families of $200 for every child under the age of 12. Parents of special-needs kids will receive $250 per child as part of that $336 million program.

> $1 billion contingency fund for COVID-19 outbreak response as needed.

> $935 million for hospitals to increase capacity to handle patients with more acute- and critical-care beds.

> $243 million to expand emergency capacity and virus containment measures in nursing homes.

> $160 million to boost COVID-19 testing and surveillance and provide home-testing kits when they become available.

> $182 million for increased home and community care, hiring of more doctors nurses and personal support workers.

> Doubling the Guaranteed Annual Income System (GAINS) for low-income seniors for six months.

> Increasing electricity cost-relief programs in the coming fiscal year by $1.5 billion to a total of $5.6 billion.

> A new $200 million “social services relief fund” with $148 million to go to charities, NGOs and community and religious organizations that help the vulnerable, with $52 million earmarked for extra monies for those already on social assistance to pay for transportation, medications or food.

> $70 million in infection control measures and protective equipment for residential care facilities for youth, as well as for those with developmental disabilities, and retirement home residents.