No immediate plans to sell off Ontario’s key assets: finance minister
Posted March 5, 2010 2:10 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – Ontario’s finance minister said the province will not announce any asset sales in this year’s budget.
There’s been much speculation about the possible privatization of key assets such as Hydro One and the Liquor Control Board as the province struggles to deal with a nearly $25-billion deficit.
Premier Dalton McGuinty had opened the door to the possibility of asset sales, a move that many said will provide a one-time gain but will ultimately result in a loss of revenues.
Speaking at the Canadian Club in Toronto Friday, Finance Minister Dwight Duncan said no sale will be announced this year.
He said the province will continue to look at whether government businesses could be unleashed to provide new jobs, but isn’t ready to make a move yet.
Duncan is expected to lay out his plan to get out of the deficit when he delivers his budget around March 25.
