The Ontario government says it will push to remove trade barriers with the rest of Canada, as part of its goal to make Ontario’s economy "the most competitive place in the G7 to invest."
Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont delivered the throne speech, in which the Ford government outlined its priorities following its election win in late February.
The threat posed by the Trump administration was front and centre during the address to the legislature that kicked off the spring session.
"President Trump’s approach to tariffs has been, in a word, chaotic," said Dumont. "He has at times pursued them with unrelenting determination, only to pull back, narrow the scope or offer full-scale exemptions. The president is taking uneven aim at specific sectors of our economy over others, often offering opposing or contradictory targets and timelines. The consequence: widespread economic uncertainty."
The first step in providing relief Dumont said, is the $11 billion in tax relief and rebates offered to Ontario businesses last week.
The province says it will also introduce legislation to protect Ontario through free trade within Canada. Dumont said those internal barriers cost Canada’s economy $200 billion every year and increase what families and businesses pay for goods and services by nearly 15 per cent.
"Goods produced and services provided in other provinces and territories will be treated the same in Ontario, provided other provinces and territories do the same," said Dumont. "Hard-earned credentials from other provinces and territories will be recognized automatically, ensuring highly skilled workers from elsewhere in Canada can get on the job faster, fill key gaps in Ontario’s labour force and help grow our economy. No restrictions, no red tape: just free trade within Canada."
Dumont then pointed to the demand on infrastructure that this push for economic growth will result in. She reiterated the province's controversial plan to develop a tunnel under Hwy 401, and efforts to increase energy production to meet growing demand.
The dire need for housing was addressed after that, with the government once again pointing to the need to remove red tape in order to speed up building.
"Following the example of leaders like Mayor Steven Del Duca of Vaughan and Mayor Carolyn Parrish of Mississauga, the province will leverage these growing investments to work with municipalities to lower their costly local development fees that add hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cost of a new home for Ontario families," said Dumont. "At the same time, your government will standardize and bring more transparency to the cost and timelines of building homes, including for local development charges, study requirements and Building Code permit approvals."
The address then looped back to the threat of Trump's tariffs, as Dumont said his efforts to weaken the economy are a shot at the healthcare system.
"In turn, President Trump’s threats against our economy are also a threat against the world-class health care system Ontario families depend on. Your government’s plan to protect Ontario’s economy is a plan to protect health care," she said.
The Conservatives highlighted efforts to "reach across the aisle" for ideas, pointing to the success of Dr. Jane Philpott’s Primary Care Action Team that is working to connect all Ontarians with a primary care physician. Dumont also noted the government's 10-year, $50 billion investment to build and upgrade more than 50 hospitals across the province.
"The challenges Ontario faces today are profound. At their most extreme, these challenges pose existential risks to our province’s economy and to Canada’s national sovereignty," said Dumont. "Our province and country have faced down serious challenges before. Each time, we’ve emerged stronger and more united... As we face this latest challenge, that same strength and resilience, that same sense of unity and purpose will guide us forward."