Rae says Budget 2026 will Support Rural Communities

March 26, 2026

[Queen’s Park]— Today, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, the Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, introduced the provincial budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year. 

“Our government is focused on protecting Ontario—keeping costs down, supporting jobs, and making sure we come out of this period of economic uncertainty stronger.” said Matthew Rae, Member of Provincial Parliament for Perth-Wellington. 

“Ontario is navigating economic challenges with a pragmatic and prudent fiscal plan,” said Minister Bethlenfalvy. “To help the province navigate these times and come out stronger, we are investing in strategic priorities such as energy, critical minerals, key infrastructure and critical technologies that will make our economy stronger, while cutting red tape and creating the conditions for businesses to grow, supporting workers and strengthening Ontario’s economy.” 

The 2026 Budget will help protect Ontario by building the most competitive economy to invest, create jobs and do business in the G7 by cutting red tape, streamlining permits, removing interprovincial trade barriers, investing in infrastructure, and supporting workers. 

As the global landscape continues to evolve and trade tensions and supply chain pressures impact the economy, the Government of Ontario is protecting our communities with a multi-year Tax Action Plan and the removal of the full 13 per cent Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) for all eligible buyers of new homes for a maximum rebate of $130,000 in relief. 

“In the face of tariffs and economic uncertainty, we’re focused on supporting jobs, strengthening our economy, and keeping costs down. I’ll continue to advocate to ensure Perth–Wellington gets it fair share of provincial funding,” said MPP Rae. 

Budget 2026 will: 

  • Expanding investment in the Primary Care Action Plan to $3.4 billion from 2025 to 2029, furthering the province’s plan to connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor or primary care provider, an additional investment of over $300 million.   
  • Increase Ontario Autism Program funding to nearly $1 billion annually, enabling more children and youth to access core clinical services and strengthen sector capacity across the province.
  • Inject an additional $300 million over six years through the Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, to help meet the needs of growing communities as they foster healthier and more active lifestyle for families and make sports more accessible.
  • Invest $9.4 million over three years to renew grants for the Summer Company and Starter Company Plus programs delivered through the Small Business Enterprise Centres network.
  • Support to Small Business Enterprise Centres as they meet growing program demand, expand advisory services and support new initiatives with an investment of $3 million over three years.
  • Cut the small business corporate income tax (CIT) rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent, giving over 375,000 Ontario small businesses an additional $1.1 billion in CIT relief over the next three years so that they continue to stay competitive and resilient.

Ontario’s plan does not raise taxes or cut services, and Ontario is one of the only provinces that remain on a path to a balanced budget. Ontario is projecting balance by 2028-29, projecting deficits of $12.3 billion in 2025-26, $13.8 billion in 2026-27 and $6.1 billion in 2027-28, before planning for a surplus of $0.6 billion in 2028-29.  

Budget 2026: https://budget.ontario.ca/2026/index.html