I am pleased to rise this morning to discuss the importance of the procedural process specific to concurrence in supply and how it relates to the government’s estimates for the 2022-23 fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, I think it is useful for all members of this House and the public in general to appreciate what concurrence is and how the estimates process works. It is so very important because every dollar spent throughout the fiscal year comes out of the pockets of this province’s hard-working taxpayers, those same citizens who are facing very challenging economic times and who have entrusted us to deliver on the priorities of the people of Ontario.

It is true that the economic climate right now is challenging. Interest rates are higher than they have been for years and inflation remains high presently. There are also geopolitical conflicts that are adding to the general feeling of unease and economic pressure. As well, Mr. Speaker, supply chains have not yet had the time to be fully recovered from the global pandemic.

Now, when seen in this context, it is easy to understand the additional importance of the government’s fiscal responsibility and transparency and the essential importance for all members and for the public to understand the full fiscal process. To explain and clarify this process is exactly what I will endeavour to do today.

On September 8, 2022, volume 1 of the 2022-23 expenditure estimates was tabled. A few months later, on December 5, 2022, volume 2 of the 2022-23 expenditure estimates was tabled. This second set detailed the spending plans of the legislative offices. Seen as a whole, the expenditure estimates provide details of the operating and capital spending needs of ministries and the legislative offices for the fiscal year. This constitutes the government’s formal request to the Legislature to approve spending requirements.

Mr. Speaker, this is an annual process that every Ontario government must complete. This process constitutes the government’s annual formal request to the Legislature to approve spending requirements. Should it pass, the estimates provide each ministry with the legal authority to spend their operating and capital budgets.

Once expenditure estimates were introduced, they were then referred to the relevant standing committee for review. The standing committees then select ministries to appear and answer specific questions as to their respective expenditure estimates. This was the first time that we used this new approach and it resulted in a comprehensive review of almost all ministry estimates. This general oversight is invaluable.

Should the Supply Act pass, it signifies the final approval by this House of expenditures proposed by the government in the expenditure estimates. It is important to note that our government is not proposing any new spending today, but rather the government is simply looking to approve the spending already outlined in the 2022-23 estimates.

As a brief reminder for all members of this House, the latest projection as per the quarter 3 finances is that overall program expenses in 2022-23 were projected to be $188.6 billion. That is money that is going into building an Ontario that is prepared for the future, an Ontario that embraces innovation and prioritizes health and safety, an Ontario that is fiscally secure and ready to take the next step forward.

Mr. Speaker, in the face of hard economic times, the people of Ontario have proven their resilience and strength, and it is the government’s duty as stewards of the public purse to support the families, the workers and the businesses of this entire province. It is an awesome responsibility to be entrusted with their hard-earned tax dollars, the hard-earned tax dollars of the citizens of Ontario. It is not to be taken lightly.

Our government made a promise to be responsible and to be transparent with the province’s economic and fiscal realities. We have made a promise to the people of Ontario to deliver better jobs and bigger paycheques; to build highways, transit and hospitals; and to lower the cost of living for families. Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what we are doing.