Kitchener, Ontario — The City of Kitchener is welcoming Ontario’s latest fiscal update as a positive signal for local economic development, housing growth, and infrastructure expansion. Following the release of the 2025 Fall Economic Outlook & Fiscal Update, titled A Plan to Protect Ontario, Mayor Berry Vrbanovic praised the provincial government’s continued focus on competitiveness, trade, and job protection.
The update, presented by Ontario’s Minister of Finance, The Honourable Peter Bethlenfalvy, outlines measures aimed at reinforcing the province’s economic resilience while addressing cost-of-living pressures and supporting municipalities. Central to the plan are new investments in trade diversification, transportation, housing infrastructure, and energy affordability.
Key Provincial Investments
Among the fiscal update’s highlights is a $100 million boost to the Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF), which supports small and medium-sized businesses seeking to expand into new markets and improve trade resiliency. The move signals continued provincial confidence in the private sector’s role in strengthening Ontario’s economic foundation.
Infrastructure also takes centre stage, with the province announcing plans to advance construction of Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph, a long-anticipated transportation link expected to improve regional trade and mobility. The project has been identified as a crucial corridor for goods movement and a catalyst for economic activity across southwestern Ontario.
Additionally, the government is committing an extra $1.6 billion to the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP), nearly doubling the program’s total investment to $4 billion. The funding is intended to accelerate construction of housing and critical infrastructure, complementing Ontario’s Building Faster Fund initiative.
Energy affordability measures are also included, with an increase to the Ontario Electricity Rebate from 13.1% to 23.5%, designed to offset rising costs for households and businesses.
Local Support for Provincial Direction
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic commended the province’s approach, particularly its attention to economic competitiveness and infrastructure priorities that directly affect Kitchener and the Waterloo Region.
“I commend the Ontario government for its continued commitment to protect our jobs and protect our economy,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “I would like to congratulate Minister Bethlenfalvy on delivering the 2025 Fall Economic Outlook & Fiscal Review that focuses on building a competitive economy. We are pleased to see investments in our local economy, including moving forward on the construction of the critical trade-enabling Highway 7, which will safeguard over $45 billion of Ontario’s GDP.”
The construction of Highway 7 has been a long-standing priority for municipal leaders and regional stakeholders. Once completed, the route is expected to reduce congestion, facilitate trade logistics, and enhance access between two of the province’s fastest-growing urban centres.
Commitment to Transit and Housing
The Fall Economic Outlook also reaffirmed the provincial government’s support for two-way, all-day GO service along the Kitchener Line, a project that has been a focal point in regional transportation planning. Expanded rail service is projected to ease commuter times and strengthen connections across Ontario’s innovation corridor, which includes Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, and Toronto.
Mayor Vrbanovic emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between municipal and provincial partners to ensure that infrastructure and housing goals are achieved in tandem with economic growth.
“Building on our strong partnership with the province, we will continue to advocate for investments that will achieve our shared goals of protecting our economy and building more housing, faster,” said Mayor Vrbanovic. “That’s why we are calling for an all-of-government approach to support a collaborative and long-term infrastructure program for a stronger economy, more housing and in support of our growing community.”
A Strategic Path Forward
For Kitchener and the surrounding region, the fiscal update represents an alignment of local and provincial priorities — supporting trade, mobility, and livability in one of Ontario’s most dynamic economic hubs.
With its combination of business investment, transportation improvements, and housing infrastructure funding, the 2025 Fall Economic Outlook underscores Ontario’s strategy to balance fiscal responsibility with targeted growth initiatives.
As municipalities like Kitchener continue to experience rapid population increases and rising housing demand, Mayor Vrbanovic’s remarks highlight the importance of sustained provincial partnership. The commitments made in A Plan to Protect Ontario suggest a continued focus on strengthening both local economies and the broader provincial framework — a message that resonates strongly with communities across Ontario’s innovation corridor.
