December 30, 2016

Mr. Yvan Baker
Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance
7 Queen’s Park Crescent
Frost Building South, 7th Floor
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1Y7

Dear Mr. Baker:

I am honoured to have you as my parliamentary assistant, and thank you for the valuable support that you will provide me in this crucial role. I welcome you to the Ministry of Finance, and look forward to working closely with you to ensure that both ministry and overall government objectives are achieved.

At this mid-point of our mandate — and after having achieved two years of real and tangible progress — we are redoubling our efforts to deliver on our top priority — economic growth and good jobs. Our balanced plan to build Ontario up for everyone will deliver real benefits and more inclusive growth that will help people in their everyday lives. We will do this by continuing to invest in better infrastructure, more affordable and accessible postsecondary education, a competitive, low-carbon economy and improved retirement security.

Responsible fiscal management remains an overarching priority for our government, and, thanks to our disciplined approach, we are on track to balance the budget next year, in 2017-18.

The mandate letter I received in September from Premier Wynne sets out my specific priorities as minister for the coming two years. Parliamentary assistants play a key role in meeting these priorities and in helping put our government’s plan into action.

Our ministry is committed to:

  • Working toward a balanced budget by 2017-18, without compromising the investments needed to support citizen-focused services and stimulate economic growth.
  • Providing strong oversight of Ontario’s regulatory systems for pensions, insurance, financial services and capital markets to ensure consumer and investor protection.
  • Delivering on our commitment to reduce automobile insurance rates and driving the necessary regulatory reforms and fraud prevention measures to ensure that Ontario’s auto insurance system is fair, affordable and that consumers are protected.

As Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance your specific responsibilities include:

Continuing to Make Auto Insurance More Affordable

  • Building on the reduction in automobile insurance rates since August 2013, additional reforms are required to address uncertainty in the auto insurance system and maintain an affordable product for Ontario’s 10 million drivers.
  • Working with the Advisor on Auto Insurance on his recommendations to further improve the system to pass on savings to consumers and ensure accident victims get the care they need.
  • Providing advice to government by early 2017 on additional reforms.

Strengthening Consumer and Investor Protection

  • Helping to develop a response to the final report of the Expert Advisory Panel appointed to review the mandates of the Financial Services Commission of Ontario (FSCO), the Financial Services Tribunal (FST) and the Deposit Insurance Corporation of Ontario (DICO).
  • Supporting the implementation of resulting changes, ensuring strong regulation of financial services and pensions and improved consumer, investor and pension plan beneficiary protection.

Promoting a More Open Government

  • Hosting a series of pre-budget consultations with individuals and organizations across the province as part of the government’s ongoing dialogue with Ontarians.
  • Enhancing Budget Talks, Ontario’s online consultation tool, and exploring new ways to utilize technology to encourage public participation in the development of provincial budgets.

A tremendous opportunity lies before us — to ensure that our ministry’s mandate is fully and effectively implemented, to continue to build Ontario up and to deliver real benefits to all Ontarians.

Sincerely,

Original signed by

The Honourable Charles Sousa
Minister of Finance