Government of Ontario News - Finance

1. Ontario Releases 2020-21 First Quarter Finances

   TORONTO — The Ontario government is continuing to support the province's recovery from COVID-19 over the long-term while delivering on its commitment to transparency and accountability with the release of 2020-21 First Quarter Finances and an update to Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19. To protect the health and economic well-being of the people of Ontario, the government continues to invest and budget for further contingencies in the fight against the COVID-19 outbreak, including providing support to families, businesses, workers, municipalities, long-term care homes and those on the front-lines of the pandemic. These investments bring the government's COVID-19 response action plan to a projected $30 billion, up from $17 billion announced in Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 on March 25, 2020.

2. Ontario Provides Update to Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19

   Since announcing the first steps in the government's response to the global pandemic on March 25, 2020, the government has made additional investments and budgeted for further contingencies in the fight against COVID-19. This includes allocating more support for people, jobs, a safe reopening, and the prevention of - or response to - a second wave. With these investments, the government's COVID-19 response action plan is now a projected $30.0 billion, up from $17 billion announced in Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19 on March 25, 2020.

3. Minister of Finance to Release Quarterly Fiscal Update

   Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, will release Ontario's 2020-21 First Quarter Finances and provide an update to Ontario's Action Plan: Responding to COVID-19.

4. Support for Small Business Tenants and Landlords Extended

   TORONTO — Today, the Ontario government, in partnership with the federal government, extended the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) for small businesses by one month to help eligible small business pay rent for August. To find out how much rent support you may be eligible for, visit Ontario.ca/rentassistance.

5. Province Seizes Over 2.6 Million Cigarettes in Joint Operation

   Description of Seizures: On February 19 and 21, 2020, Ministry of Finance investigators participated in a joint operation with the Ontario Provincial Police and local police. The ministry seized 2,641,600 unmarked cigarettes. Twelve people were charged under the Tobacco Tax Act.

6. Eight Convictions in February for Violating Tobacco Tax Act

   The following individuals were convicted of offences under the Tobacco Tax Act:

7. Nine Convictions in March for Violating Tobacco Tax Act

   The following individuals were convicted of offences under the Tobacco Tax Act:

8. Province Seizes Over 2.4 Million Cigarettes and 60 Kilograms of Waterpipe Tobacco in Joint Operation
   Description of Seizures: On January 28 and 31, 2020, Ministry of Finance investigators participated in an operation with the Ontario Provincial Police. The ministry seized 2,402,000 unmarked cigarettes and 60 kilograms of waterpipe tobacco. Seven people were charged under the Tobacco Tax Act.
9. Province Seizes Cigarettes, Cigars and Other Tobacco in Joint Operation

   Description of Seizures:  On January 24 and 25, 2020, Ministry of Finance investigators participated in an operation with the Ontario Provincial Police. The ministry seized 846,680 unmarked cigarettes, 290 cigars and 13,446 grams of other tobacco. Twelve people were charged with offences under the Tobacco Tax Act.

10. Eight Convictions in January for Violating Tobacco Tax Act

    The following individuals were convicted of offences under the Tobacco Tax Act: