Premier Wynne defends 2015 Budget on The Morning Show

WATCH: Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne defends her 2015 budget on The Morning Show.

TORONTO – Premier Kathleen Wynne believes the government’s plan to sell a 60 per cent stake in Hydro One will benefit Ontarians well into the 21st century by reinvesting the money into public transit and infrastructure projects.

“This is not a sell-off the way the 407 was, we’re realizing a benefit for the people of Ontario,” said Wynne during an interview on Global’s The Morning Show on Friday.

“At the same time retain ownership, 40 per cent ownership for the people of Ontario, which will mean there will continue to be a revenue stream.”

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However, opposition parties say the Ontario budget announced on Thursday will still lead to higher electricity rates, fewer nurses in hospitals and cuts to other government services.

“We’re going line by line in all of our ministries, health being the biggest, and we’re looking for ways to do things differently,” she said.

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“So the best example is people don’t necessarily need to be in a hospital in order to get the care they need. So putting more money into home care, which is what we’re doing to provide those services at home, that’s what people want.”

The budget includes a pledge to eliminate the $10.9-billion deficit in two years by finding efficiencies and ending some tax breaks for businesses.

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NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says privatizing Hydro One, which is expected to generate $9-billion, will drive up already-high hydro bills and slash future revenues that could fund health care and education.

The Progressive Conservatives say the Liberals are playing a shell game with finances, and predict the Liberals will use money from the Hydro One sale to reduce the deficit.

With a file from The Canadian Press