The Liberal MPP for London North Centre is defending the provincial budget, calling it a win for the city.
The province has promised to eliminate Ontario's $10.9-billion deficit by 2017-2018.
Finance Minister Charles Sousa tabled the $131.9-billion budget yesterday. The document contains no major surprises, since Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a 60% sell off of Hydro One shares and beer sales in grocery stores last week.
In the budget, the province promised funding for upgrading Hwy. 401 in the area and supports for skilled trades training.
"We hear from businesses a lot that they've got jobs that are vacant because they can't find people with the right skills," Matthews tells BlackburnNews.com.
The former health minister defends the provinces handling of health care funds, despite the London Health Sciences Centre announcing it would have to make cuts to find $26-million in savings this year.
"We are transforming our health care system and that's really hard work, but what that means is that people will get the care they need closer to home, they will get out of the hospital when they are ready to leave the hospital because there will be supports for them to be cared for at home," says Matthews.
The sell-off of Hydro One shares is all in an effort to raise $4-billion for infrastructure projects. Many are criticizing the move, stating that it will cause hydro rates to skyrocket.
The province will retain 40% ownership and all other shareholders will be capped at owning 10%, but Matthews will not call it privatization.
"We're are going to be putting shares out so people can buy them for their investment fund, pension, add it to the mix and we're doing that so we can build that much needed infrastructure," says Matthews.
Overall, the budget includes $11.9-billion to be spent on infrastructure for 2015-2016.