The Ontario legislature rose for summer last night, ending the first legislative session of Premier Doug Ford’s third term. The break follows six weeks of heated debate on the measures chosen by the government to be their top priorities.
Here are Counsel’s top three takeaways from this legislative session:
1.The Government has Decided to Take Charge
While ‘Protect Ontario’ is their current slogan, the PCs’ previous one of ‘Get It Done’ seems more apt. The Ford Government appears to be using this third majority as license to seize the wheel and drive their vision for infrastructure, health care, accountability, and tearing down historic trade barriers.
The biggest example is Bill 5, the Protecting Ontario by Unleashing Our Economy Act, which introduces Special Economic Zones that allow trusted proponents to be exempted from provincial and municipal regulations, streamlines mining permitting and replaces Ontario’s endangered species regime. The Bill was pushed through the legislature despite strenuous objections from opposition parties, Indigenous leaders, environmental activists, and labour unions.
The NDP were able to capture some momentum from Bill 5 opposition, including MPP Sol Mamakwa’s ejection from the Legislature by the Speaker for accusing the Premier of being untruthful, which is a big no-no under legislative rules. While the Bill has passed the Legislature, opponents have pledged to continue to fight, including threats to blockade roads.
While the quieter summer months of sunshine and patios typically have a calming effect on the Ontario political scene, we expect that the controversy surrounding Bill 5 and the pending regulations will not be going away quickly.
The take charge approach defines the legislative session, with the introduction of several barrier-busting pieces of legislation, including:
Bill 2, Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act: This Bill sent a message that Ontario should take charge of its own fate in dealing with the trade war with the US, by aggressively tearing down trade barriers within Canada.
Bill 9, Municipal Accountability Act: This Bill pushes for greater accountability and centralized oversight in municipal government through new standardized Codes of Conduct.
Bill 17, Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act: Aims to accelerate transit and housing projects.
Bill 33, Supporting Children and Students Act: Responds to the headlines over questionable school board spending by giving more oversight and control over education spending to the province and;
Bill 40, Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act: Advances the government’s ambitious energy plans by requiring utilities to give priority to job-creating projects waiting to connect to the grid.
2. MPPs Finally Get a Raise
After a 16-year wage freeze that saw MPP salaries capped at $116,550 the Government passed legislation granting MPPs a 35% pay increase. This brings the MPP base salary to $157,350, still 25% less of what Federal MPs are making.
As part of the Bill, MPPs are also set to regain access to a defined benefit pension plan originally abolished back in 1995 under Premier Mike Harris.
In a rare showcase of tri-partisan support, the vote on the enabling piece of legislation, Bill 34, MPP Pension and Compensation Act, 2025, was unanimous. This shouldn’t be shocking to anyone as the recent years of inflationary pressures were starting to weigh on Members from every corner of the Province and stood in the way of attracting talent to consider running for office.
3. Action Taken to Connect Patients to More Doctors
Multiple health care bills were tabled this session including Bill 11, More Convenient Care Act and Bill 13, Primary Care Act, aimed at improving access to primary care. This is being achieved through expanding scope of practice for nurses, removing barriers that prevented them from performing more care that they are qualified for but was previously restricted to only physicians. This is building on commitments made by the Ontario PCs in their election platform to expand the scope of practice for qualified health-care professionals.
These health Bills also aim to improve access through expanded primary care teams, increase accessibility for remote communities, and expand teaching clinics at universities to train more medical professionals. The government is also permitting more American doctors and nurses to work in Ontario.
With Ontario’s population and need for services expected to sky-rocket in the next 25 years, expect to see more on healthcare moves throughout the Government’s four-year mandate.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
This government is moving quickly on key infrastructure, energy, health, and resource projects, doubling down on the notion that these will help protect Ontario from the economic threat caused by an unpredictable US President with an itchy tariff-trigger finger. While Premier Ford can’t predict what’s going to happen next, he can prepare for it and send the message that he is ready for that fight. These projects create opportunities across several sectors and more energy and better transportation could mean cheaper costs for Ontario people and businesses. In turn, investing in provincial infrastructure and being a steady force in the face of uncertainty is attractive to companies looking at where they should invest. While this focus might make it challenging to cut-through on non-trade or economic related issues, Ontario will be most interested in identifying partners to get these big things done.