"Residents of this province already pay high fees and taxes for items such as drivers licences, registrations, gasoline, insurance and land transfers," said Sweeney. "The new Ontario government is exploring these areas as viable options to raise money to offset their deficit.

"I call on the Premier and Minister Whalen to confirm that fees currently charged for services will not increase. The cost of consumer products continues to rise as wages in this province have failed to grow sufficiently to accommodate any increases in fees at this time."

The Liberal MHA also fears that privatization and the creation of Special Operating Agencies (SOAs) could take many regulatory responsibilities out of the hands of the government.

"I fear that agencies such as Newfoundland Liquor Corporation will be privatized and departments like Government Services and Lands will be split into SOAs in the interest of saving money. This department provides an important service delivery and regulatory role within government and should be operated directly by the government. We must only look at the current state of the insurance industry in this province to realize that consumers will suffer if services are farmed out in this way."

Special Operating Agencies are popular in the British system and have been used on occasion in Canada. These are non-departmental, arms length organizations established under a contract that provides an operating mandate and guided by an administrative head.