Feb. 26: Making sense of the millions.

Earlier today, I posted my Top 10 list of questions (the full list is at the end of this piece). Two had to do with the 2018–19 OAP budget:

If the original OAP budget for 2018–19 was $256 million, and an additional $102 million was requested, why is the current budget only $321 million instead of $358 million? Where did the missing $37 million go?

Why was the 2018–19 OAP budget only $256 million, when $317.8 million was spent in 2017–18?

Today in Question Period, Liberal MPP Michael Coteau (Don Valley East) asked his own version of this question — and didn’t get much of a response.

Well, it turns out the number isn’t $321 million at all… it’s $361 million.

I’m waiting to see how the government came up with this new $361 million, along with an explanation of why they have been saying $321 million for the past three weeks.

There’s still the question of why they’re using $265 million as the 2018–19 baseline, particularly since the government spent $317 million in 2017–18. Coteau has provided additional evidence that the 2018–19 budget was $321 million, not $256 million, all along:

You can see the $321,484,100 value for yourself here: Expenditure Estimates for the Ministry of Children and Youth Services (2018–19)

I have no idea where the government is coming up with their figures. When I learn more, I’ll be sure to update you!

Mike’s Top Ten Questions

1. What was the chain of events that led to the program freeze? When did it happen? Why did at least one service provider believe the freeze would only be temporary?
2. Why were parents left in the dark about the program freeze? Why were service providers instructed to keep us ignorant? What purpose did this serve?
3. If the original OAP budget for 2018–19 was $256 million, and an additional $102 million was requested, why is the current budget only $321 million instead of $358 million? Where did the missing $37 million go?
4. Why was the 2018–19 OAP budget only $256 million, when $317.8 million was spent in 2017–18?
5. The “23,000” waiting list number was obtained by amalgamating all the waiting lists into one. Given the some children could be on multiple waiting lists, how many unique children are on waiting lists? How many of those children have never received service before?
6. What is the forecasted expenditure for the new plan in fiscal years 2019–20, 2020–21 and 2021–22? What were the assumptions underlying these forecasts?
7. Why does the new plan take into account family income and a child’s age, but not a child’s needs? How is it a good use of taxpayer money to give some children more money than they need, while providing children with more significant needs only enough money for a few weeks of therapy?
8. How does income testing work under the new program? What is the formula?
9. What goods and services can families purchase under the new plan? Are OT and speech therapy included? If not, why not?
10. What will the transition look like for kids currently receiving treatment?