A Rallying Cry to Protect Ontario

Three Takeaways from Ontario’s Throne Speech 

The 44th Parliament of Ontario is in many ways, a series of firsts. It’s the first Ontario legislative session with a female Speaker of the Legislature. It’s the first legislative session since the provincial election which saw the PC Party forming a third consecutive majority government. Most critically, it’s the first legislative session since the tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump first took effect.  

Today, Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont delivered the Speech from the Throne, outlining how the government will protect Ontario in this tumultuous economic environment. The Speech covered broad themes of economic empowerment and resilience. The Speech previews the unprecedented legislative levers the province will pull to achieve it. 

Here are three key takeaways from today’s Throne Speech: 

Ontario Stands Defiant in the Face of U.S. Tariffs 

Premier Doug Ford and his Cabinet will make good on the PC Party’s campaign pledge to “Protect Ontario.”   

The commitments include: 

• $11 billion in relief to help workers, businesses, and communities affected by tariff-induced economic uncertainty; 

• Calling on the federal government to use revenues from reciprocal tariffs to support individuals and businesses;  

• Investments in training and skills development, to ensure Ontarians can secure rewarding careers; and 

• Prioritizing domestic procurements and mandating that some construction materials for government-funded infrastructure projects come from Ontario or elsewhere in Canada. 

Ontario Will Eliminate Barriers to Drive Economic Growth 

The need to eliminate red tape has never been more urgent. These barriers stifle Ontario’s economic competitiveness, reducing our ability to meet the demand for made-in-Ontario goods and services within Canada. 

The government will: 

• Introduce legislation to reduce inter-provincial trade barriers – provided other provinces and territories do the same;  

• Introduce legislation to provide the government the authority to designate certain regions, like the Ring of Fire, as “regions of strategic importance,” unlocking partnerships and mutual economic benefits with Indigenous communities; 

• Ensure the hard-earned credentials of workers from other provinces will be recognized automatically;  

• Streamline approval processes for important infrastructure projects, allowing Ontario to reach new markets; 

• Take a “common-sense” approach to environmental assessment processes, with the aim of streamlining the system; and 

• Invest in new energy production and critical mineral extraction to meet domestic demands and supply international markets. 

Public Services that Deliver for Ontarians 

As economic pressures mount, Ontarians need to know they can continue to access the services they need now and in the future.  

To that end, the government will: 

• Provide funding to increase capacity at post-secondary institutions, ensuring higher education trains students to fill labour gaps; 

• Invest $1.8 billion to connect everyone in Ontario to primary care within four years; 

• Invest billions of dollars to upgrade existing hospital facilities and build new ones;  

• Build tens of thousands of new long-term care beds; and 

• Build a new expressway under Highway 401 and expand public transit across the province, to reduce gridlock. 

The emotionally-charged speech concluded with a full-throated declaration of Canada’s strengths – a country of diverse individuals united by a common sense of duty, hard work, and resilience. The measures outlined today are a reminder that the Government of Ontario has acted decisively in times of crisis – and despite outside attempts to divide us – we will emerge from this pivotal moment with newfound purpose. 

What Does This Mean for You and Your Business?  

Governments like to work with pointed, concise messages that build a consistent brand for their priorities, and we heard this today. Think of these as lanes:  

• Protect Ontario from Economic Uncertainty; 

• Protect Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy; 

• Protect Ontario by Building; 

• Protect Ontario Workers; 

• Protect Ontario by Keeping Costs Down; 

• Protect Ontario Borders and Communities; 

• Protect Ontario Health Care.  

If you want to advance your project, you should pick one of these lanes.  

Stay tuned for more Counsel Public Affairs coverage of that and any other developments in the coming weeks.