Doug Ford should be in the legislature working to get Ontario’s economy off life support, writes Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie
Doug Ford needs to get his act together.
We’re dealing with an unstable, erratic, spiteful president in Donald Trump. Everyone knows that. Before telling the prime minister how he should act, Ford needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror and focus on what he can do for Ontario.
According to Ford, Ontario’s economy is the best it’s ever been. That’s what he’d like you to believe.
Let’s look at the reality.
Ontario’s unemployment rate is 7.9 per cent, among the highest in the country and well above the national average. That’s not normal. Over 700,000 people in this province can’t find work. Our youth unemployment rate is the highest in Canada at 14.6 per cent, and our kids can’t find summer jobs. Just last month, we saw 54,000 young people apply for jobs with the CNE when only 5,000 jobs were available.
It’s no wonder so many young people are struggling to find work in this economy: Ontario’s 1.2 per cent GDP growth in 2024 trailed the national average of 1.6 per cent.
So much for being the economic engine of Canada.
Ford isn’t just dragging down the rest of the country on employment, but also on housing. This week, the Ford government’s own data revealed that only 15 out of 50 of Ontario’s largest municipalities met their housing targets in 2024. These targets were set by Ford with the expectation that they could be achieved, yet even those proved out of reach in the costly, chaotic environment that his government has created. When years of policy reversals and inaction caught up with him, Ford controversially began counting long-term care beds, retirement homes and student dormitories as “housing starts” — a first in Ontario, that was widely viewed as a sign of desperation. Even with that inflated count, it wasn’t enough.
Ontario is supposed to be building 150,000 homes a year to achieve 1.5 million by 2031. In 2024, we had just 95,000 housing starts, and that’s only if you include the 7,000 long-term care beds, student dormitories and retirement home suites.
Alarm bells should be blaring. Not only are we failing to provide affordable homes, but we’re missing out on the chance to create Ontario jobs using Canadian materials like steel, aluminum and softwood lumber.
Where is Ford’s sense of urgency? He’s quick to call out the Bank of Canada when interest rates remain the same, and quick to call for retaliatory tariffs, but he’s silent on everything that’s within his control.
Nearly two weeks ago, Donald Trump imposed 35 per cent tariffs on non-CUSMA-compliant goods, on top of the existing 50 per cent tariffs on steel, aluminum, and various other auto-sector tariffs. This is a gut-punch for Canada. My thoughts are with workers on the assembly line, business owners worried about making payroll and young people navigating this job market.
But let’s ask ourselves, what has Ford done to protect Ontario to date?
We have seen layoffs at Canada Metal Processing Group and Algoma Steel, production halts at GM’s CAMI plant, shift cuts at F&P Manufacturing and thousands impacted by the idling of Stellantis’ Windsor and Brampton plants.
This week, the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities (FONOM) warned that the new 35 per cent tariff on softwood lumber will devastate northern Ontario’s forestry sector, put jobs at risk and drive up housing costs by raising the price of essential building materials.
So, where’s the action?
For three months, Ontario has been waiting with bated breath for the Ford government to deliver its $5 billion “Protect Ontario Account,” promised as emergency relief for companies hit by tariffs in this year’s budget.
Yesterday, the government finally announced $1 billion, only as a repayable loan, with strict rules that will shut out most in need. The program is limited to sectors like steel, aluminum and automotive, which are vital to Ontario’s economy but far from the only ones struggling under the weight of tariffs. Furthermore, those companies that are eligible must first exhaust all other funding options before applying, raising the question of how many will still be operating when relief would arrive.
Ford can often be heard touting his $9 billion tax deferral for businesses, but that’s not real relief. Imagine calling up business owners a few months from now — when circumstances could very well be worse — and saying, “Hey, remember those taxes we deferred? They’re due now. Pay up.”
Ontario Liberals have long been calling for true tax relief to make life more affordable. We’ve called to halve the small business tax, cut income taxes and lower taxes on home heating and hydro. We’ve called for scrapping development charges and eliminating the Land Transfer Tax for first-time homebuyers, seniors and non-profit builders. We’ve urged this government to finally address the infrastructure and school repair backlog, which would create jobs and increase demand for the very commodities in Trump’s crosshairs.
Ford just doesn’t have it in him.
It’s not only about how unprepared Ford left Ontario’s economy for this trade war, but how little he’s doing now to change Ontario’s fortunes. One would think that, in a year of crisis, the legislature would be working overtime, yet this premier has kept it in session for only seven weeks in 2025, dodging scrutiny and accountability.
Doug Ford should be in the legislature working to get Ontario’s economy off life support and deliver real financial relief to the people and communities that need it most.
Bonnie Crombie is the leader of the Ontario Liberal Party and a former mayor of Mississauga.