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Windsor

Total COVID-19 measures spending report released by FAO

Ever wonder how much the provincial and federal governments are spending on measures to protect the public and businesses from the pandemic?

Ontario's Financial Accountability Officer released a report Thursday that shows the net total this year and next will be $105.6 billion.

A total of 126 federal and provincial direct support measures were taken, including 61 from the federal government, and 65 from the province.

Ottawa will have spent $102 billion.

For Queen's Park, the total is $10.8 billion, but the net cost to the province is $3.6 billion after federal cash transfers are factored in.

Most of the money, about $51.5 billion, will support individuals, while another $42.1 billion supported businesses. The rest went to schools, childcare, and other sectors.

As for tax deferrals and liquidity measures, 18 actions worth $76.9 billion were taken by the two governments.

The office also reviewed Ontario's $30 billion Updated Action Plan. About $1.9 billion went to the health sector and for electricity subsidy programs, but the rest was direct support measures, liquidity, and unallocated.

The all-party standing committee on finance and economic affairs asked for the report.

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