Hudak critical of funding cuts to city of Toronto

Ontario finance minister Charles Sousa plans to meet with Toronto mayor Rob Ford this afternoon to discuss changes to the way the city’s social programs are funded.

However the provincial government is vowing not going to budge on its proposed changes. Sousa says other municipalities have complained the arrangement the province has with Toronto to pay for its welfare and disability support programs is unfair.

Ford says he was shocked to hear about the changes and is warning it will mean cuts to important programs.

Opposition leader Tim Hudak attacked premier Kathleen Wynne for slashing funding for municipalities while giving in to union bosses.

“Before you start reducing commitments, especially if they are commitments to other levels of government, you have an obligation to spend within your own means. You have an obligation to lead the way, and I think it is hypocritical, I’m thinking people are tired of this, of a Liberal government that lectures everybody else, and they themselves would open the floodgates for spending again.”

“How can you with a straight face tell the city of Toronto to cut back, when you give away golden handshakes to the government unions?”

The city of Toronto claims it will get $150 million less under the proposed changes.