Confidential document warns Ontario Liberals to step up fight against deficit

TORONTO – A newly released confidential document shows that top bureaucrats warned the governing Liberals in January to step up deficit-fighting measures to meet their targets.

The document, labelled “confidential advice to cabinet,” says even though the government is beating its deficit forecasts, it needs to increase the actions required to meet targets over the next few years.

It also urges the government to draft plans soon to show how it will slay the deficit in 2017-18.

It says ministries have started planning to curb spending over the next two years, but the government needs to start planning up to 2017-18.

The Progressive Conservatives, who obtained the documents, say it shows the Liberals have no plan to lift Ontario out of its fiscal hole.

But the Liberals say they’re routinely provided with worst-case scenario advice that helps them make decisions without compromising public services.