The Top Line
This afternoon, Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont delivered the 44th Parliament of Ontario’s Speech from the Throne entitled ‘Protect Ontario’. The Speech laid out the agenda of Premier Doug Ford’s re-elected Progressive Conservative Government. Despite calling the election over a year before the mandate expired, the government was elected on February 27th with a strong majority, enabling stable governance in Ontario until June 2029.
Today’s speech warned of the “chaos and uncertainty” of Donald Trump’s tariff threat, which means Ontarians must gird for stormy days ahead. The government reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Ontarians from global economic instability and uncertainty—particularly in light of new U.S. tariffs—while focusing on jobs, infrastructure, and affordability.
The speech outlined the government’s new mandate as an opportunity to address key economic challenges, coupled with a strong directive given by voters to the Premier to protect Ontario’s economy from U.S. tariffs and the challenges of dealing with U.S. President Trump. In addition to the needed focus on defending the province against U.S. tariffs, the speech laid out the government’s intent to stimulate the economy via priority investments in highways, transit, hospitals and schools.
Looking forward from today’s speech, the government will soon introduce Budget 2025, which they were unable to present before the February provincial election. Look for Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy to introduce a Budget in the near future.
Policy Priorities
These are challenging times for all governments in dealing with the U.S. President Trump’s unpredictability has jurisdictions worldwide scrambling for understanding and stability as the world teeters on a worldwide recession. Canada, specifically Ontario, is most vulnerable as the United States’ largest trading partner and, therefore, the most impacted by random and unnecessary tariffs on goods crossing our border. Premier Ford has constantly maintained that reciprocal tariffs are required, and that Ontario will continue to fight hard in what is now generally regarded as a trade war between the United States and the rest of the world.
The 2025 Throne Speech focused on five updated themes:
- Protecting Ontario from economic uncertainty;
- Unleashing the province’s economic potential;
- Building critical infrastructure;
- Keeping costs down for families; and,
- Strengthening public services and community safety.
The Throne Speech reaffirmed many previously announced commitments while introducing a more urgent focus on economic sovereignty, energy security, and critical infrastructure in the face of U.S. trade disruptions. These included:
- President Trump’s renewed tariffs and threats to Canada’s sovereignty require an urgent, united response.
- $11 billion in emergency relief funding to support Ontario businesses and workers affected by tariffs.
- New legislation to eliminate internal Canadian trade barriers and recognize out-of-province credentials.
- Commitment to make Ontario the most competitive economy in the G7.
- Ontario will champion nation-building infrastructure including new pipelines, ports, railways and highways to open new markets and reduce U.S. dependence.
- New legislation to unlock the Ring of Fire, designating it and other areas as critical economic zones with streamlined permitting and Indigenous equity partnerships.
- Ontario’s minerals to be refined and processed in Ontario, creating local jobs and securing supply chains.
- Ontario will invest $200 billion in infrastructure — the largest plan of its kind in Canadian history.
- Common-sense infrastructure policy includes moving bike lanes to secondary streets and prioritizing made-in-Ontario and Canadian materials in all projects.
- Continued opposition to the federal carbon tax and strong emphasis on taxpayer relief.
- Ongoing work with municipalities to lower development fees and reduce housing costs through standardization and faster approvals.
- Over 1 million jobs added since 2018; now expanding skills training with record investments, and a commitment to close Ontario’s labour shortage gap.
- Continued support for Ontario colleges and universities to fill workforce gaps.
- Health care a top priority amidst economic uncertainty, including $1.8 billion investment to connect all Ontarians to primary care by 2029; $6.4 billion to build and upgrade 58,000 long-term care beds; and hire 27,000 new long-term care staff by 2025 with nearly $5 billion over 4 years, to name a few.
- Investment in nuclear expansion, including small modular reactors (SMRs) at Darlington and exploration of new large-scale nuclear sites
- Operation Deterrence to crack down on illegal drugs, weapons, and unauthorized border crossings.
- Re-introducing legislation to clean up encampments and public spaces.
- Pushing Ottawa to reform bail laws and end “catch-and-release” policies.
- New jail construction and tougher judicial appointments to keep dangerous offenders behind bars.
What to Expect at Queen’s Park in the Spring Session
The passing of the Throne Speech takes time, depending on the Opposition and any amendments introduced. Look for this to be pushed through before the House rises in June.
The speech also said the government was committed to introducing legislation to protect Ontario through free trade within Canada as its first order of business. We should expect more information on this legislation in the coming days.
Budget 2025 will also be introduced in the very near future and will likely dominate the spring session. The government will have to attempt to judge the impact of the pending U.S. tariffs and provide the appropriate alternatives to deal with them. This will make Budget 2025 a significant challenge. As today’s speech notes, “The challenges Ontario faces today are profound. At their most extreme, these challenges pose existential risks to our province’s economy and Canada’s national sovereignty.” These themes will, by necessity, be covered in the Budget and be a critical priority for the government as it begins its mandate.
According to the legislative calendar, the House is scheduled to rise on June 5, 2025.
The House should then return to its regular schedule beginning in September. Look for this second term to try and make up lost time with a rash of new initiatives and the government focusing on protecting the provincial economy and getting Ontario moving again.
Opposition Reaction
Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition and Leader of the NDP:
“We are going to be looking for tough measures to stop manufacturers and equipment from leaving this province.”
“We are going to be looking to grow our economy with a Buy Ontario and Buy Canadian directive for public agencies and to bolster efforts to find new markets for Ontario goods and services in Canada and with our democratic allies aboard.”
Bonnie Crombie, Leader of the Ontario Liberal Party:
“Our focus will be on protecting the jobs we have, creating new ones, and making life more affordable. The same problems that existed before Trump’s tariffs still exist today. Families want timely and accessible healthcare, homes they can afford, and functional classrooms. We will be looking for solutions to these problems in today’s Throne Speech, and we’re ready to present our own, should [the Ford government] fail to do so.”
What This Means to You
The Speech from the Throne reaffirmed the government’s priorities outlined in the recent election campaign. The pending budget will enhance it by including full costing and revenues resulting from this updated platform.
Specifically, the government must face and react to the confusion created by U.S. President Trump and his ever-changing application of tariffs. Currently, in the middle of a 90-day freeze, the tariffs will provide uncertainty to the marketplace and create a real challenge for Ontario. Those planning provincial advocacy must understand the government’s focus on these issues and build advocacy strategies that understand and speak to these priorities.
