Premier Ford ranks poorly among recent Ontario premiers for managing growth in government spending and improving living standards

TORONTO—Premier Doug Ford’s fiscal and economic record compares poorly with recent premiers, particularly growth in government spending and increases in living standards for Ontarians, finds a new study published by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.

“Political parties are not a good predictor of fiscal or economic policy. As an example, look no further than how the Ford government’s fiscal record very much mirrors that of former Premier Wynne, as opposed to Mike Harris’,” said Ben Eisen, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Comparing the Fiscal and Economic Performance of Recent Ontario Premiers.

The study finds former Premier Mike Harris reduced average annual per person spending (inflation-adjusted) by 1.9 per cent. Critically, Premier Ford’s government has increased it by 0.8 per cent on average, not unlike the 0.9 per cent increase recorded by Premier Wynne. Of the last four long-serving premiers, Premier Dalton McGuinty recorded the largest annual increase of 3.0 per cent.

On other critical economic measures, including growth in GDP per person, business investment per worker, and private sector employment, Premier Harris consistently ranked highest of the four recent premiers.

For GDP per person (inflation-adjusted)—a common measure of living standards—the Ford government, on average, has increased living standards by 0.2 per cent, the worst of any the recent premiers. GDP per person under Premier Harris increased by 2.8 per cent annually—the highest recorded increase in living standards, by a substantial margin.

“The evidence is clear: Premier Harris had the strongest fiscal and economic record of recent long-serving Ontario leaders, and Premier Ford’s record much more closely resembles that of Kathleen Wynne,” Eisen said.

Media Contact:
Ben Eisen, Senior Fellow
Fraser Institute

To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:
Drue MacPherson, Fraser Institute
604-688-0221 ext.721
drue.macpherson@fraserinstitute.org

The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of 86 think-tanks. Its mission is to measure, study, and communicate the impact of competitive markets and government intervention on the welfare of individuals. To protect the Institute’s independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit fraserinstitute.org.

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