Ontario's incoming government has ordered a hiring freeze, cancellation of subscriptions and a hold on out-of-province travel.
Progressive Conservative party spokesman Simon Jefferies suggests the directives sent to all Ontario ministries are a follow-through on a campaign promise of respect for taxpayers at Queen's Park. They will remain in effect until the new government can "true look at the state of Ontario's finances".
Premier-designate Doug Ford has promised a line-by-line review of the books by an outside auditor and a tendering process to hire that auditor.
The hiring freeze does not apply to critical services like fire, policing, corrections and developmental services. Public service employees can also be hired into other positions.
Ministries have also been ordered to put a hold on events, advertising, media monitoring, consulting and any other non-essential spending that wouldn't put delivery of services or the public at risk.
The PCs have not said how much money they estimate the measures might save.
NEWSTALK 1010 political analyst Bob Reid, former spokesperson for PC Premier Ernie Eves says while the moves may not make a big financial difference they do send an important message.
"Symbolically, optically, it's hugely important. This is Doug saying there's a new sheriff in town and we're going to cut the nonsense," Reid told Moore in the Morning Monday.
During the campaign, Ford vowed to bring the province back to balance in year three or four of his mandate. The Liberals put the province's current deficit at $6.6-billion but Ontario's Auditor General says it's more like $12.5 billion.
Jim Warren, who worked in the office of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty worries a hiring freeze may mean staffers are moved from ministry to ministry to fill gaps, regardless of their qualifications.
Doug Ford will be sworn in as Premier of Ontario June 29.