TORONTO — Ontario has closed its fall legislative session after passing a dozen government bills the Ford government says will bolster the province’s competitiveness, strengthen key sectors and advance long-term economic resilience in the face of global uncertainty.
Premier Doug Ford framed the fall sitting as a decisive period of action as the province responds to mounting economic pressures, including trade tensions triggered by U.S. tariffs. “As Ontario workers and businesses continue to face down the uncertainty and upheaval caused by President Trump’s tariffs, our government is focused on protecting our province by creating a more competitive, resilient and self-reliant economy,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Over the last few months, we have continued to deliver on our plan to support workers and families by investing in infrastructure, keeping costs down, creating new opportunities for trade, cutting red tape to attract investment, building critical energy infrastructure and unlocking our vast reserves of critical minerals in the Ring of Fire in partnership with First Nations. These measures are helping keep workers on the job today and they’re creating the opportunity for long-term growth and economic prosperity for decades to come.”
The government highlighted movement on multiple fronts, including major commitments to critical minerals development, nuclear energy expansion, large-scale transit builds and health-care infrastructure.
One of the most significant developments this fall was the province’s progress on the Ring of Fire, a remote mineral-rich region in Northern Ontario. Ontario signed community partnership agreements with Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation, paving the way for construction to begin next year on several sections of road infrastructure that will connect the communities and eventual mining sites to the provincial network. The province says the project could generate $22 billion in economic activity and create 70,000 jobs. The agreements also include funding for community benefits and infrastructure supports for First Nations partners.
Ontario also advanced its energy strategy, positioning the province as what the government calls an emerging “energy superpower.” In October, Ontario formalized a partnership with the federal government to build the first Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in the G7. The reactors are projected to power 1.2 million homes, create 18,000 construction jobs and contribute an estimated $38.5 billion to Canada’s GDP over 65 years. In addition, Queen’s Park confirmed its support for the refurbishment of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, a project expected to sustain nearly 37,000 jobs over the course of construction and operation.
Large-scale transportation and transit projects also marked key milestones. The Finch West and Eglinton Crosstown LRT lines reached substantial completion, while early work continued on Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass. GO Transit expanded its network with the opening of Hamilton’s Confederation GO Station and introduced first-ever weekend service to Kitchener. The government also pointed to ongoing commitments through its $4-billion Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, intended to accelerate housing-enabling infrastructure across the province.
Strengthening primary care remains another pillar of the government’s agenda. Under the $2.1-billion Primary Care Action Plan, led by Dr. Jane Philpott, Ontario aims to connect every resident with a family doctor or primary care provider by 2029. The province has created or expanded more than 130 primary care teams, linking more than 300,000 individuals to services, and is investing up to $300 million in teaching clinics to train new physicians. Since the plan’s launch in January, the Health Care Connect waitlist has been reduced by more than 70 per cent. November also marked the opening of the new West Lincoln Memorial Hospital, part of a nearly $60-billion program to build or upgrade more than 50 hospitals.
Throughout the session, the government introduced and passed several major pieces of legislation tied to its broader economic and social agenda. These measures included the 2025 Ontario Economic Outlook and Fiscal Review: A Plan to Protect Ontario, alongside bills that prioritize Ontario-made procurement, cut regulatory burdens, streamline approvals for builders and strengthen oversight of school boards, postsecondary institutions and children’s aid societies.
Other legislative actions targeted worker protection, wildfire risk reduction, hazardous well management, carbon storage, emergency response modernization, municipal restructuring in Peel Region and boundary adjustments to support future growth in Simcoe County.
The fall sitting, which began October 20, amended 107 existing acts, created six new statutes and repealed one. The government emphasized Ontario’s broader economic momentum, noting nearly $113 billion in foreign direct investment since 2019 and more than one million new jobs created since 2018. The province has also signed interprovincial trade memorandums with 10 provinces and territories and a separate agreement with the State of Maryland.
With the legislature now adjourned, the government says it will continue working with municipal, community and federal partners to deliver on its mandate heading into 2026, focusing on infrastructure building, job creation and implementation of recently passed laws.
