Ontario Finalizes 2024-25 Spending Plan

Summary#

Bill 18 (Supply Act, 2025) gives the Ontario government legal authority to spend money for the fiscal year from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025. It approves the final amounts for government programs and investments, based on the Estimates the Legislature reviewed.

• Authorizes up to about $197.1 billion for government program expenses (health care, education, social services, etc.).
• Authorizes up to about $6.08 billion for investments (capital assets, loans, and other investments).
• Authorizes about $355.4 million for Legislative Offices (the Assembly, Auditor General, Elections Ontario, and Ombudsman).
• Replaces earlier interim spending laws and applies retroactively to April 1, 2024.
• Lets funding move with programs if responsibilities shift between ministries during the year.

What it means for you#

• General public

  • Day‑to‑day services continue: hospitals, schools, long‑term care, child and family supports, policing and corrections, environmental programs, and more.
  • No new taxes or new programs are created by this Act. It is an approval to spend on existing plans.

• Patients and families

  • Health services remain funded (health care is the largest share, about $72.6 billion).
  • Long‑term care homes continue to receive operating funds.

• Parents and students

  • School boards keep receiving provincial funding (education is about $37.4 billion).
  • Colleges and universities continue to receive support (about $7.4 billion).

• People using community and social services

  • Funding for income support and community programs continues (about $20.0 billion for Children, Community and Social Services).

• Drivers and transit riders

  • Ongoing funding for roads, highways, and transit projects continues (transportation totals about $12.1 billion in program spending, plus major capital investments).

• Municipalities, nonprofits, and suppliers

  • Grants, transfers, and contract payments from the province can continue on schedule.

• Public servants

  • Salaries and operating costs for ministries and agencies remain funded.
  • If programs shift between ministries, the funding follows the program.

Expenses#

Estimated annual cost: about CAD $203.6 billion.

• Program expenses (ministries and public service): up to $197.12 billion.
• Investments (capital assets, loans, other investments): up to $6.08 billion.
• Legislative Offices (Assembly, Auditor General, Elections Ontario, Ombudsman): about $355.4 million.
• Largest ministry areas include:
  • Health: about $72.6 billion.
  • Education (K–12): about $37.4 billion.
  • Children, Community and Social Services: about $20.0 billion.
  • Transportation: about $12.1 billion.
  • Long‑Term Care: about $9.34 billion.

Proponents’ View#

• This is a routine, necessary law that keeps the government running and services funded for the fiscal year.
• Matches the spending plan already reviewed in the Estimates, with clear totals by ministry in the schedules.
• Ensures hospitals, schools, social services, and infrastructure projects continue without disruption.
• Replaces temporary (interim) spending authority with a full‑year approval, improving certainty.
• Allows funding to follow programs if ministries are reorganized, avoiding gaps.

Opponents’ View#

• The totals are very large; critics may say spending growth is too high or priorities are misplaced across ministries.
• A supply act is an “all‑in‑one” approval, which some argue allows less detailed debate on individual programs.
• Retroactive approval (back to April 1, 2024) can be seen as reducing real‑time oversight.
• Some sectors may argue funding is still insufficient for needs (for example, hospitals, schools, or municipalities), while others may question the value of certain capital projects.
• Higher spending can add pressure on borrowing and future debt if revenues fall short.