Sousa says Ontario ripped off by federal budget, calls it kick in the teeth

TORONTO – Ontario is accusing the Harper government of “ripping off” the province in the federal budget, mainly because of a $641 million cut in equalization payments.

Finance Minister Charles Sousa says the budget shortchanged the people of Ontario, and accused the federal Conservatives of playing political games that put the province’s economic recovery “in the cross hairs.”

He says Ontario was looking for a federal partner on infrastructure projects, for fairness, and simply wants to be treated the same as provinces in the east and west.

Sousa complains that Quebec and Alberta are actually each getting more that $1 billion in spending in the federal budget.

Sousa says even though the federal budget gives Ontario “a kick in the teeth,” the province will do what it takes to stay on track to balance its books by 2017-18.’

But he says the federal Tories are balancing their books on the backs of Ontarians, making themselves look good while the province struggles.