About $1 billion is being slashed from Ontario’s Children, Community and Social Services Ministry over the next three years, according to the provincial budget released Thursday. Annual spending will drop from $17 billion for the last fiscal year ending March 31 to $16 billion projected for 2021-22. A further $510 million in annual savings are expected through streamlined administration and simplified reporting in programs such as income support, child care, affordable housing and homelessness prevention programs, the budget said. Article Continued BelowThe budget includes few details on the cuts beyond those announced last fall by Minister Lisa MacLeod as part of a massive revamp of the province’s social assistance system. Both Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner and NDP finance critic Sandy Shaw noted poverty was not mentioned once in the budget.

Source: thestar April 11, 2019 20:19 UTC