The Ontario government has spent $3.5 billion less than expected in the first half of 2022-23, according to the province’s financial watchdog, with spending increases in some sectors offset by a reduction in planned health-care spending and contingency fund transfers.
In a report released Tuesday, the Financial Accountability Office (FAO) said the province’s total spending plan of $193 billion remained unchanged as of Sept. 30. In total, the province expected to spend about $84 billion in the first two quarters of the year, but the actual unaudited spending was around $80.5 billion.