Overview

The Public Accounts presents the government’s financial statements and gives a picture of how finances were managed over the last fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).

The Auditor General reviews the Public Accounts before it is released and gives an opinion on whether Ontario is following independently established accounting standards.

Public Accounts are made up of:

  • an annual report
  • consolidated financial statements
  • three supporting volumes

It is typically released in the fall of the following fiscal year.

Annual report

The annual report is a high-level summary. It includes financial statements and analysis, as well as  achievements for the fiscal year.

Read the annual report (2017-18)

Download data from the annual report on the government’s five-year trends for:


Consolidated financial statements

These statements compare government revenues to its expenses (the cost of providing programs and services and financing debt). The result is the annual surplus or deficit. These statements also include the budget plan and last year’s numbers for comparison.

Read the consolidated financial statements (2017-18)

Volume 1: ministry statements and schedules

Volume 1 contains ministry statements, detailed schedules of debt and other items. This volume details where government revenue comes from, including taxes, non-tax revenue and income from enterprises (such as the LCBO), alongside the expenses of ministries.

Read Volume 1 (2017-18)

Ministry spending

Health and Long-Term Care

$55,635,600,152

Education

$29,198,336,023

Finance

$13,598,946,219

Community and Social Services

$12,354,219,707

Advanced Education and Skills Development

$8,692,450,582
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Transportation

$5,570,261,687

Children and Youth Services

$4,579,497,585

Energy

$3,055,213,722

Community Safety and Correctional Services

$2,806,886,197

Attorney General

$1,995,286,853

Environment and Climate Change

$1,930,877,381

Treasury Board Secretariat

$1,713,168,354

Tourism, Culture and Sport

$1,326,693,362

Municipal Affairs / Housing

$1,215,833,197

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

$1,210,399,860

Economic Development and Growth / Research, Innovation and Science

$1,062,930,205

Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

$758,075,954

Northern Development and Mines

$721,236,550

Natural Resources and Forestry

$657,285,604

Government and Consumer Services

$622,027,390

Infrastructure

$508,681,944

Labour

$318,489,601

Assembly, Office of the

$164,364,520

Citizenship and Immigration

$159,056,112

Chief Electoral Officer, Office of the

$112,938,174

Cabinet Office

$56,954,495

International Trade

$48,215,334

Seniors Affairs

$26,815,262

Status of Women

$26,620,349

Auditor General, Office of the

$19,341,114

Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

$18,913,974

Ombudsman Ontario

$14,184,549

Francophone Affairs

$6,421,859

Premier, Office of the

$2,685,257

Lieutenant Governor, Office of the

$1,726,503

 

Volume 2: financial statements of government organizations and business enterprises

Volume 2 contains the individual financial statements of government organizations, business enterprises and other financial statements. These organizations and enterprises include agencies, such as Metrolinx and Hydro One, and organizations like the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.

Read Volume 2 (2017-18)

Volume 3: detailed schedules of payments

Volume 3 contains the transfer payments made by ministries to recipients that are not a part of the Government of Ontario, such as hospitals, community agencies and schools. It also includes payments to vendors for goods and services, such as third-party staffing agencies, consultants and telecom providers.

Read Volume 3 (2017-18)