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It is tough for Ontarians to understand what’s going on with their province’s finances. When the budget was released just over a month ago, the headlines were about record spending and a leisurely five-year plan to eliminate the deficit.

Since then, the government has been raining down spending cuts that are even less welcome than Ontario’s miserable weather. One day it’s the OPP budget. Then it’s stem cell research and an apparent reduction in money for battered women’s shelters. That’s all on top of cuts to school boards, public health, municipalities, libraries and tree planting.

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Public response has been dramatic. Toronto city councillors have gone to battle stations. School boards are up in arms. Unions are angry. School kids are demonstrating.

It’s fair to say that after 15 years of governments that ratcheted up spending and debt, Ontarians are not familiar with the concept of government doing less, and many of them don’t like it. That’s not unexpected. Most people will not welcome cuts to services that sound useful, changes that affect their children or moves that could take away their own jobs.