OTTAWA — Ontario Premier Doug Ford used his keynote address at the 2025 Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference to unveil a significant $1.6 billion increase to the province’s Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, while vowing to protect jobs and strengthen the economy in the face of ongoing U.S. tariffs.
The announcement, delivered in Ottawa before municipal leaders from across the province, nearly doubles the size of the program to $4 billion. Ford emphasized the dual goals of creating hundreds of thousands of new homes and supporting Ontario workers during a period of economic uncertainty.
Responding to Tariffs and Trade Strains
Ford opened his remarks by acknowledging the challenges posed by renewed tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, calling them a direct threat to Ontario’s economy and communities.
“President Trump’s tariffs are taking direct aim at our country, our province, and our people,” Ford told delegates. “Because a tariff on Canada is a tax on Americans. And it needs to end.”
The Premier argued that the tariffs are hurting families and businesses on both sides of the border by increasing costs and disrupting trade. He pledged that Ontario will continue pressing the case in Washington, while also strengthening its domestic resilience.
“As Canadians, we need to look at ourselves and make sure we are doing everything in our power to unleash the incredible potential of our province and our country,” he said. “We need to build a stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant economy.”
Investment in Minerals, Skills, and Health Care
Ford detailed a series of major initiatives aimed at bolstering Ontario’s long-term competitiveness. Among them is a $500 million Critical Minerals Processing Fund, designed to ensure that minerals mined in Ontario are refined domestically, creating jobs in northern communities such as Thunder Bay, Timmins, and Sudbury.
The Premier also cited $2.5 billion for the province’s Skills Development Fund to retrain workers affected by tariffs, alongside nearly $30 billion in relief for businesses and families facing economic disruption.
On the health care front, Ford pointed to record investments of nearly $60 billion to build and upgrade more than 50 hospitals, alongside $2.1 billion earmarked to connect every Ontarian to a family doctor or primary care team by 2029.
Buying Ontario” and Local Procurement
Ford underscored a theme of local procurement, urging municipalities to follow the province’s lead in directing government spending toward Ontario-made products.
“Every year, Ontario spends nearly $30 billion dollars on procurement,” he said. “We’re going to spend this money on Ontario-made products — like steel, forestry products, and vehicles — and I encourage every municipality here to do the same.”
He highlighted Toronto’s recent $2.3 billion investment in subway cars for Line 2, noting that the contract with Alstom will see the trains manufactured in Thunder Bay, keeping tax dollars and jobs within the province.
Housing and Infrastructure Front and Centre
The centrepiece of Ford’s address was housing, with the expanded Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program positioned as critical to enabling construction across the province. Since its inception, the program has supported 800,000 new homes.
“Through our Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, we’ve already invested nearly $2.3 billion dollars, supporting the construction of 800,000 new homes across Ontario,” Ford said. “Today, I’m thrilled to announce that we will be increasing this program by another $1.6 billion dollars. This brings the total size of the program to $4 billion dollars and will support the construction of hundreds of thousands of homes across Ontario.”
The Premier also touted the $1.2 billion Building Faster Fund, which rewards municipalities for meeting and surpassing housing targets. He singled out Windsor, which exceeded its goal by 213 per cent, earning $5.2 million in new funding.
Ford added that the province will continue working with the federal government, noting that he had spoken with Prime Minister Mark Carney about removing the HST for first-time homebuyers to lower costs.
Partnerships with Municipalities
Throughout his remarks, Ford stressed the importance of collaboration with local governments. He praised Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown for their leadership on procurement and public service initiatives, while encouraging other municipalities to follow their examples.
Municipal support programs remain a key part of the province’s strategy, with nearly $700 million annually allocated for homelessness prevention, $75 million to end park encampments, and $550 million to build 28 Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment Hubs.
Ford also defended controversial “strong mayor” powers as tools to accelerate housing approvals, framing them as part of a broader push to keep construction on track.
Closing Call for Unity
In closing, Ford struck a unifying tone, framing Ontario’s challenges and opportunities in national terms.
“We live in the best province, in the best country on earth. And I know that we are united in our fight to protect Ontario,” he said. “I promise everyone here that our government will continue working with you to protect our communities, invest in growth, and make Ontario safer, more competitive, and more prosperous than ever before.”
