TORONTO - Highlights of the 2010 Ontario budget presented Thursday by Finance Minister Dwight Duncan:
-- $110.2 billion in deficit spending over eight years until books are balanced, including this year's record $21.3-billion deficit.
-- Public sector salary funding freeze affecting more than one million workers. Municipal employees, including police, to be exempt from legislation implementing the freeze.
-- Two-year freeze for members of provincial parliament and non-unionized public sector employees.
-- Collective agreements of unionized public servants to be honoured, but no net increase in compensation when agreements are renegotiated.
-- $63.5 million annually to replace federal child care funding.
-- A $310-million increase in post secondary education funding to pay for 20,000 new college and university spaces this fall.
-- $150 million a year program to create a northern industrial electricity rate aimed at reducing electricity prices by 25 per cent for large industrial users.
-- A new northern Ontario energy credit to give annual credits of up to $200 for low-to middle-income families. Singles would get up to $130.
-- Hold program spending to an average of 1.9 per cent beyond 2012-13, except for health spending which will be capped at three per cent growth each year.
