“Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, Ontario won't back down. We'll stand strong, use every tool in our toolkit and do whatever it takes to protect Ontario.”
Doug Ford, · Ontario Newsroom release on electricity surcharge
What happened · Mar 11, 2025
Ford suspended the surcharge the next day while U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods stayed in place, and it has not been reimposed.
The 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota and New York took effect March 10, 2025. On March 11, after a call in which U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick invited him to talks in Washington, Ford agreed to suspend it. He called the invitation an "olive branch" and said "cooler heads" needed to prevail. The White House dropped its threat to double steel and aluminum tariffs, but the 25 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum took effect. The province said the one-day surcharge raised $260,000. As of late August 2026 the surcharge had not been reimposed. Ford said then that it should be reintroduced if the trade war escalated further.
The line did not open in 2025; passenger service on Line 5 Eglinton began on February 8, 2026.
On February 7, 2025, during the provincial election campaign, Ford said the Crosstown would be open that year; Metrolinx said the same day that testing and commissioning were still underway. The line did not open in 2025. Ford said in January 2026 that he was confident it would open in early February, and passenger service began on Sunday, February 8, 2026, as a phased opening with introductory service levels. The line was originally scheduled to open in 2020.
“We've been pretty transparent on costs. I'll get the exact number for you.”
Doug Ford, · Highway 401 tunnel news conference, Toronto
What happened · Aug 27, 2025
Ford's staff refused to give the figure right after the news conference, and as of June 2026 the government had still never said what Highway 413 is expected to cost, even after awarding its first contracts.
On September 25, 2024, The Trillium asked Ford whether he would release Highway 413's projected cost, and he promised an exact figure. After the news conference his staff declined, saying the estimate had to stay confidential until procurement was finished and contracts were awarded. The first two Highway 413 contracts were announced on August 27, 2025, but Ford and Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria again would not give a budget or completion date. On June 5, 2026, The Trillium reported that the government 'has never said how much the project is estimated to cost', after the opposition parties asked the Financial Accountability Office to cost the highway.
“Highway 413 is subject to Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act and other provincial and federal protections, including those under the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act and the Species at Risk Act.”
Ontario government news release, · Ontario news release, Caledon
What happened · Nov 25, 2024
Within seven months the government passed Bill 212, whose Schedule 3 (Highway 413 Act, 2024) exempts Highway 413 and its early works from the Environmental Assessment Act.
On April 15, 2024, a joint Canada-Ontario release announcing that the federal impact-assessment designation would be set aside said the project 'is subject to Ontario's Environmental Assessment Act', and the province repeated this on April 30, 2024. On October 21, 2024, Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria introduced Bill 212, the Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024. Its Schedule 3, the Highway 413 Act, 2024, exempts the highway, its extensions and its early works from the Environmental Assessment Act. It also disapplies Part II of the Environmental Bill of Rights to permits for the project and replaces the EA with a ministry-run environmental impact assessment report. The bill received royal assent on November 25, 2024; the draft report was open for comment from December 1, 2025 to January 6, 2026, and the final report was published on March 12, 2026.
“To support students and their families, Ontario is extending the tuition fee freeze for publicly assisted colleges and universities for at least three more years.”
Ministry of Colleges and Universities news release, · Ontario government news release (Dunlop announcement)
What happened · Feb 12, 2026
On Feb. 12, 2026 the government ended the freeze and allowed domestic tuition increases of up to 2 per cent starting in 2026-27, the third year the 2024 promise covered.
On Feb. 26, 2024, the ministry said the tuition freeze in place since 2019 would be extended for at least three more years. The Canadian Press reported this as running until at least 2026-27, which means 2024-25, 2025-26 and 2026-27. On Feb. 12, 2026, Minister Nolan Quinn announced the end of the freeze. Publicly assisted colleges and universities may raise domestic tuition by up to 2 per cent a year for three years, starting in 2026-27. The same announcement capped OSAP grants at 25 per cent of a student's aid; they had been as high as 85 per cent.
“We’re on track to bring high-speed internet access…To every region in Ontario by the end of 2025.”
Doug Ford, · Speech, Rural Ontario Municipal Association conference
What happened · Oct 31, 2025
The end-of-2025 deadline passed without universal access; the government itself moved the target to 2028.
In late October 2025 Global News reported, and the government confirmed, that Ontario would miss its end-of-2025 target for connecting every community to high-speed internet. The new deadline is mid-2028. Officials blamed construction delays in remote areas and the March 2025 cancellation of the $100-million Starlink satellite contract, which left no ready replacement for about 15,000 remote northern homes. Ford said in November 2025 that he did not regret cancelling the Starlink deal. The province's own progress page said that as of April 2026, 96% of Ontario had access, and it now describes the goal as connecting every community 'by the end of 2028'.
Ontario cancelled the roughly $100 million Starlink satellite internet contract and agreed to pay SpaceX a fee to formally end it. The government says the fee is significantly less than the contract value, and ministers have refused to disclose it. The payment is a cancellation settlement, not a delivery of service.
“In recognition of the costs incurred by municipalities arising out of this decision, the province will work with impacted municipalities to assist with related planning and staffing costs.”
Paul Calandra, · Minister's statement, Ontario Newsroom
What happened · Aug 24, 2026
A September 2024 ministry briefing note said no decision had been made on reimbursement and the ministry had not asked municipalities for their costs; Guelph and Wellington County, both covered by the statement, told CBC in August 2026 they had not been reimbursed.
Calandra's October 23, 2023 statement reversed provincial changes to the official plans of 12 municipalities, including Guelph and Wellington County, and pledged help with the resulting planning and staffing costs. A briefing note obtained by CBC News through freedom of information says that, on Calandra's direction about five months later, 'the ministry has not done any proactive outreach to municipalities to solicit cost submissions' and that 'no decision has been made on reimbursement.' In August 2026 Guelph and Wellington County confirmed to CBC they had not been reimbursed; Guelph put its cost at nearly $64,000. Pickering, Durham Region and Grimsby, whose separate claims relate to the Greenbelt removals, also say they have not been paid. The province did not respond to CBC's request for comment.
Told CBC and CTV it has not been reimbursed by the province for staff, legal and consulting costs it incurred because of the Greenbelt removals and their reversal, after the housing minister's October 2023 pledge to help municipalities with such costs. The city said it had requested about $360,000.
Confirmed to CBC and CTV that it has not been reimbursed by the province for costs from the Greenbelt and official-plan reversals, despite the housing minister's October 2023 pledge of help with planning and staffing costs.
Confirmed to CBC and CTV that it has not been reimbursed by the province for costs tied to the Greenbelt removals and their reversal, which the province's own briefing note listed among municipal claims.
Confirmed to CBC that it has not been reimbursed by the province for costs tied to the Greenbelt removals and their reversal, which the province's own briefing note listed among municipal claims.
Confirmed to CBC that it has not been reimbursed by the province for costs tied to the official-plan reversals covered by the housing minister's October 2023 statement.
“That the Legislative Assembly accept the report of the Integrity Commissioner dated August 30, 2023 and approve the recommendation contained therein.”
Paul Calandra, · Government notice of motion (Motion 17), Orders and Notices
What happened · Oct 26, 2023
The government never called its own motion for debate or a vote, and the government House leader told the House on October 26, 2023 he had "no intention of moving forward beyond that."
On August 30, 2023, Integrity Commissioner J. David Wake found that Steve Clark contravened sections 2 and 3(2) of the Members' Integrity Act, 1994 and recommended that the Assembly reprimand him. On September 25, 2023, Government House Leader Paul Calandra filed a motion to approve that recommendation and the same day sought unanimous consent to put it to a vote without debate or amendment, which was refused. On October 26, 2023, asked when the motion would be debated, Calandra said that because Clark had accepted responsibility and resigned, he had "no intention of moving forward beyond that." The motion was still listed on the Orders and Notices Paper, never debated or voted on, as of December 5, 2024.
“The plan also shows how the new, modernized Ontario Science Centre will be integrated with the preserved and upgraded Cinesphere and pod complex, as well as an underground public parking facility that will serve visitors across the site and will include increased spaces for bicycle parking.”
Kinga Surma, · Minister's statement, Ontario Newsroom
What happened · Jun 24, 2025
On June 24, 2025 the government announced a five-storey, above-ground parking structure on the waterfront in place of the underground facility.
Surma's September 14, 2023 statement presented an underground public parking facility as part of the updated plan; CTV reported in April 2023 that the plan was a five-storey underground garage, which Ford said the province would own. The Auditor General's December 3, 2024 report listed a five-level below-grade garage at the new Science Centre site at more than $1.3 billion. On June 24, 2025 the Premier's Office announced a publicly owned, above-ground structure of up to 3,500 spaces at the existing surface lot south of Lake Shore Boulevard. On June 11, 2026 the province awarded Pomerleau a $198 million contract for an 'open-to-air, above-ground, five-storey' garage.
Who benefited
Pomerleau Inc. · $198 million fixed-price design-build contract
Awarded a fixed-price $198 million contract by Infrastructure Ontario and the tourism ministry to design and build the five-storey, above-ground Ontario Place parking structure that replaced the promised underground facility.
“Additionally, we accept your recommendation regarding a comprehensive overall review of the Lobbyists Registration Act, 1998 (LRA), Members' Integrity Act, 1994, (MIA) and Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006 (PSOA). ... we will initiate a review of all three acts in advance of the prescribed legislative timelines in a comprehensive manner at an independent legislative committee to ensure and strengthen regulatory oversight.”
Premier's Office, response to the Auditor General, · Response to Auditor General's Greenbelt special report
What happened · Dec 10, 2025
The Auditor General reported in December 2025 that the review had made "little or no progress" with no planned course of action or target date, and the Integrity Commissioner called the reviews "long overdue" in July 2026.
The Premier's Office accepted the Auditor General's Recommendation 15 in the August 9, 2023 Greenbelt report and committed to a review of all three ethics and lobbying statutes at an independent legislative committee. On September 6, 2023, the Attorney General's office said the government would review lobbying legislation "in the coming weeks" and that the Premier had recommended increased penalties "up to and including jail time." In her follow-up report released December 10, 2025, the Auditor General rated Recommendation 15 "Little or no progress," reporting that as of July 2025 the government "continues to consider" a review and had no planned course of action or target date. In her 2025-2026 annual report (July 2026), Integrity Commissioner Cathryn Motherwell again called for reviews of the three acts, saying they "are long overdue"; the Lobbyists Registration Act's offence penalties remain fines of up to $25,000 for a first offence and $100,000 for subsequent offences, with no jail term.
“The board would provide recommendations to the province to help Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon prepare to become single-tier municipalities on January 1, 2025, when the proposed changes, if passed, would come into effect.”
Ontario government news release, · Ontario news release introducing Bill 112
What happened · Dec 13, 2023
The government abandoned the dissolution before the Jan. 1, 2025 date and later amended the law to remove it.
Bill 112, the Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Dissolution), 2023, received Royal Assent on June 8, 2023 and set Jan. 1, 2025 as the date Peel Region would be dissolved. On Dec. 13, 2023, Clark's successor as housing minister, Paul Calandra, announced the province would no longer dissolve the region. He said municipal leaders had made it clear that full dissolution would bring significant tax hikes and disrupt critical services. Bill 185, the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act, 2024, received Royal Assent on June 6, 2024. It amended the act, renamed it the Hazel McCallion Act (Peel Restructuring), and limited the transition board to recommending transfers of specific services such as land-use planning, water and roads.
The Region of Peel says it spent $2.7 million dealing with the fallout of the abandoned dissolution and was billed about $1.5 million by the provincially appointed Transition Board. FOI briefing notes reported by Global News say it could not borrow in 2023 or 2024 because of uncertainty over the restructuring, and about 300 staff, including the treasurer, left after the announcement. The sources do not say whether the province ultimately reimbursed it.
On September 10, 2026 the Ontario Science Centre laid off about 30 workers, including its entire science department.
After the Don Mills site closed in June 2024, contractor food-service and cleaning staff were laid off. On September 12, 2024 Ford said of the cleaners, 'We'll find jobs for those people within the system'; in November 2024 the head of OPSEU Local 549 said that never happened. On September 10, 2026 the Science Centre laid off 30 workers, including the entire science department (OPSEU later put the number at 31: 27 permanent and four contract roles). The Tourism minister's office said 'New roles will be available for some of the impacted individuals' at the interim and permanent sites. OPSEU said only one of the 30 had been offered another permanent public-service job, and that the cuts took the unionized workforce from 166 to 136.
ParaphraseConstruction on the new facility is slated to begin in 2025, with its opening expected in 2028. The existing Science Centre will remain open to the public until then, the province says, and then it will be demolished.
the province, as reported by CBC News, · Ontario Place news conference
What happened · Jun 21, 2024
The province had the Science Centre closed with less than two hours' notice on June 21, 2024, years before any replacement was built, after an engineering report that did not itself recommend full closure.
On June 21, 2024 the province announced the Ontario Science Centre would close immediately, citing an engineering report on its RAAC roof panels; the Ministry of Infrastructure urged the centre's board to shut it, and the board did. The report rated 2-6% of roof panels high-risk and safe only until Oct. 31, 2024, and did not specifically recommend closing the building; the province put roof repairs at $22-40 million. In December 2024 the Auditor General reported the new Ontario Place building is expected to open in 2029, and that building and maintaining it would cost about $1.4 billion, more than the $1.3 billion estimate for keeping the old site. Ground was broken at Ontario Place on May 25, 2026.
The planned 2024–25 surplus was dropped in the next budget, and the audited 2024–25 result was a deficit.
The 2023 budget projected surpluses of $0.2 billion in 2024–25 and $4.4 billion in 2025–26. The 2024 budget, tabled March 26, 2024, replaced the 2024–25 surplus with a projected $9.8 billion deficit. The 2024–25 Public Accounts, released September 26, 2025, recorded a $1.1 billion deficit. In its note on the 2026 budget, the Financial Accountability Office said the 2026 budget was the third in a row to push back the balanced-budget date. That date has moved from 2024–25 to 2026–27, then 2027–28, then 2028–29.
“Today, Doug Ford announced that only a re-elected PC government will get shovels in the ground this year to build a new hospital in Niagara Falls with more beds and expanded services.”
Ontario PC campaign news release, · PC campaign stop, Niagara Falls
What happened · Jul 18, 2023
No construction started in 2022. The $3.6-billion contract was awarded in February 2023, and the official groundbreaking that began construction was on July 18, 2023.
Ford's May 20, 2022 campaign release promised shovels in the ground 'this year'. It also said the 469-bed hospital was 'expected to start construction in Fall 2022.' In February 2023, EllisDon Infrastructure Healthcare won the $3.6-billion contract to design, build, finance and maintain it. On July 18, 2023, Ford, Health Minister Sylvia Jones and Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma broke ground. Niagara Health said the groundbreaking 'officially marks the beginning of construction', about seven months after the end of the year Ford named. The hospital is being built, and Niagara Health expects it to open in 2028.
“A re-elected PC government will invest an additional $160 million to improve the speed and frequency of all-new GO train service between London and Toronto.”
2022 PC campaign release, · PC campaign stop, London
What happened · Oct 13, 2023
GO train service to London ended on October 13, 2023 and had not returned as of September 2026, so there is no London–Toronto GO service to make faster or more frequent.
On May 12, 2022, Ford's campaign promised an extra $160 million to improve the speed and frequency of GO trains between London and Toronto. At the time, the London pilot ran one weekday round trip of about four hours. In June 2023, Metrolinx confirmed that the London pilot would end on October 13, 2023, because its arrangement with CN and VIA Rail to use their tracks and stations was ending. In January 2024, CBC asked about the $160 million promise. The premier's office referred the question to the transportation minister's press secretary, whose reply did not address it. On July 6, 2026, GO service was extended west to Stratford, with one daily round trip, but not to London. In September 2026, the transit group TriTAG wrote that the London pilot had been discontinued in 2023 and that southwestern Ontario had not been included in GO expansion plans.
Neither ferry was in service in June 2022. The Wolfe Islander IV started full-time service on August 17, 2024, more than two years late. The Amherst Islander II made its first passenger crossing, a training trip, on July 2, 2024.
The 2022 budget said the Wolfe Islander IV and Amherst Islander II, which arrived in Canada in September 2021, were 'expected to be in service in late June 2022.' Kingstonist reported that start dates were pushed back repeatedly. The Wolfe Islander IV began full-time service on August 17, 2024, more than 1,000 days after it arrived in Kingston. It sailed from the old Dawson Point dock because the new Marysville terminal was not ready. The Amherst Islander II made its first trip with passengers on July 2, 2024. Loyalist Township's deputy mayor described that trip as 'the beginning of another phase of training'. Since entering service, the Wolfe Islander IV has been out of service for long stretches. CTV reported hull damage in 2024 and electrical problems in 2025. An electrical failure in December 2025 knocked out half its power and steering and kept it off the route until August 31, 2026. CBC reported that it has spent 'more time damaged, undergoing repairs, or docked than it has transporting people' in its roughly two years of official service. While it was out, the 50-year-old diesel Wolfe Islander III covered the route.
ParaphraseThe 345-bed multi-purpose facility will replace the outdated existing jail and correctional centre in Thunder Bay
Solicitor General news release, · Ontario Newsroom release, Thunder Bay
What happened · Jan 27, 2026
In January 2026 the Ministry of the Solicitor General said it plans for the Thunder Bay Jail and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to keep operating after the new complex opens.
In April 2022, when Sylvia Jones announced the $1.2-billion complex, the government said it would replace the century-old Thunder Bay District Jail (built in 1926) and the Thunder Bay Correctional Centre. In January 2026, staff were told both old facilities would stay open, to deal with overcrowding. A ministry spokesperson confirmed to CBC News that 'the ministry is planning for [the] Thunder Bay Jail and Thunder Bay Correctional Centre to continue to operate after the new correctional complex is open.' Later CBC coverage says the jail will stay open for at least another five years. Later in 2026, days after the coroner's inquest into Kevin Mamakwa's 2020 death at the old jail, Ford called the new facility a 'fancy-dancey jail' and asked whether the old one should be renovated 'because we need more cells.' The separate target of finishing construction by fall 2026 is not judged here: as of October 2026, the union expects substantial completion around November 23, 2026, with inmates moving in by about June 2027.
“Ontario and Canada have signed a $13.2 billion agreement that will lower fees for families and deliver an average of $10 a day child care by September 2025.”
Ontario government news release, · Ford–Trudeau news conference, Brampton
What happened · Nov 10, 2025
Average fees were held at about $19 a day; in November 2025 Education Minister Paul Calandra said the new extension 'doesn't bring us down to $10 on average'.
Fees fell in stages and, from January 1, 2025, were capped at $22 a day, an average of about $19 a day. The September 2025 date passed without the $10 average being reached. On November 10, 2025 Ontario and Ottawa signed a one-year extension with $695 million in new federal money, which Calandra said would hold fees at $19 on average but not lower them. A four-year extension announced September 29, 2026 commits Ontario only to keep average fees at $19 a day until June 30, 2027, and sets no new date for $10.
“The government is on track to meeting its commitment of providing 8,000 children with funding for core clinical services by fall 2022.”
Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services news release, · Ontario government news release, Hamilton
What happened · Dec 22, 2022
An internal ministry progress report obtained by Global News shows 3,304 children enrolled and only 1,511 with funding agreements by Oct. 31, 2022; the ministry instead said it had met a target of 'registering' 8,000 children.
In August 2022 officials told The Canadian Press that about 888 children were in core clinical services, and the minister's office then stopped publishing the count. On Dec. 22, 2022 The Canadian Press reported the government had missed the target. Fullerton's spokesperson said the ministry had met 'our target of registering 8,000 children and youth in core clinical services' but did not say how many had funding. An internal progress report dated Oct. 31, 2022, released to Global News under freedom of information (reported Feb. 5, 2023), showed 3,304 children enrolled and 1,511 funding agreements, about 19 per cent of the 8,000 target. FOI data reported by The Trillium in March 2024 shows the ministry reached 8,000 children with funding sometime between January and June 2023.
ParaphraseDowney said the funding should allow the backlog to return to what it was in 2019 by 2023, but stressed that isn't the end goal.
Doug Downey, · Announcement of $72M criminal case backlog strategy
What happened · Nov 26, 2024
The end-of-2023 target passed with the COVID backlog still about half uncleared: Downey told the legislature in November 2024 that it had been reduced by 48%.
The Attorney General's ministry set itself the goal 'to reduce the volume of outstanding criminal cases to pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023' (2022-23 published plan). Its 2024-25 published plan says that in 2023-24 'unprecedented case volumes and continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic continued to present capacity challenges' for the courts. In May 2024 the province funded at least 25 more Ontario Court of Justice judges to 'address the existing backlog of criminal cases.' On Nov. 19, 2024 Downey told the legislature 'we have tackled a great amount of the COVID backlog in criminal cases—nearly 50%'. On Nov. 26, 2024 he said 'we have reduced the backlog through COVID by 48%.' No published pending-case count compares end-2023 with 2019.
“No, we aren't doing it. We're not going to have a split society.”
Doug Ford, · News conference, Runnymede LTC home announcement, Toronto
What happened · Sep 1, 2021
Seven weeks later the government announced a provincial proof-of-vaccination system, which took effect on September 22, 2021.
On September 1, 2021 Ford announced that from September 22 Ontarians would have to be fully vaccinated and show proof, with photo ID, to enter restaurants and bars, gyms, cinemas, theatres, sporting events, casinos and other indoor settings. The province added QR-code certificates and a verification app on October 22. The government cited the Delta-driven fourth wave. Ford said "There's no secret that I wasn't in favour of this" Officials said the system was meant to be temporary.
“Schools will remain open — critical for students' mental health & learning. The Chief Medical Officer of Health has said schools remain safe. ... Students deserve to be in class.”
On April 12, 2021 Ford and Lecce moved all Ontario schools to remote learning after the April break, and in-person classes did not resume that school year.
Lecce repeated the commitment in a letter to parents on April 11. The next day the government announced that all publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools would move to teacher-led remote learning from April 19, 2021, with no return date. It cited record case counts, variants of concern and rising ICU admissions. On June 2, 2021 Ford announced that schools would not reopen for in-person learning before September. Ontario students spent the rest of the 2020-21 school year learning remotely, apart from in-person support for some special-education students.
“Our students will not be impacted by what is occurring at Laurentian University.”
Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano, · Remarks after funding announcement, Sault Ste. Marie
What happened · Apr 12, 2021
On April 12, 2021 Laurentian cut 69 programs during its court-supervised insolvency, and the Auditor General later found the program cuts affected the academic and career plans of about 932 students.
Laurentian University filed for creditor protection on February 1, 2021, the first time a public university in Canada had done so. A month later, Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano told students they should feel comfortable continuing their studies there and that they would not be affected. On April 12, 2021 Laurentian cut 69 programs (58 undergraduate and 11 graduate) and more than 100 faculty jobs. The university itself estimated that about 10 per cent of undergraduates and 44 graduate students would be affected. In November 2022, Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk reported that the program cuts affected the academic and career plans of an estimated 932 students, and blamed the collapse partly on weak ministry oversight.
“The 2020-2025 Poverty Reduction target is to get more social assistance recipients into meaningful employment and financial stability with a goal of increasing the number of social assistance recipients moving to employment each year from 35,000 in 2019 to 60,000 by 2024.”
The government's own final annual report says the target was not reached. Exits to employment were 35,145 in 2024, below the 2019 baseline.
The 2025 annual report on the 2020–2025 Poverty Reduction Strategy, published March 31, 2026, states: 'While this target was not reached'. It blames the pandemic, inflation, slower growth and higher unemployment. Its indicator table shows 35,985 exits to employment in 2019 (baseline), 26,946 in 2020, 21,002 in 2021, 27,421 in 2022, 28,673 in 2023 and 35,145 in 2024, the target year. In 2025, after the target date, the count was 43,425. The Trillium reported the ministry gave no further explanation and would not say whether the goal will carry into the next strategy.
The province's independent Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission found Ontario had no plan to protect long-term care residents, and nearly all of the roughly 3,756 COVID-19 deaths among residents came after the pledge.
CBC reported in April 2021 that nearly all of the 3,756 COVID-19 deaths of long-term care residents to that point happened after Ford's March 30, 2020 pledge. On April 30, 2021 the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission (Frank Marrocco, chair) reported that Ontario was not prepared for a pandemic and had no plan to protect long-term care residents, criticized the government's slow decision-making and 'lack of urgency', and said nearly 4,000 residents and 11 staff had died. CBC noted that deaths continued even after the commission was launched and issued two sets of interim recommendations.
“As we stand right now we're down to 1,000 patients in the hallways, but I can assure the people of Ontario, over the next year we won't have anyone in the hallways there.”
Doug Ford, · Remarks to reporters at the premiers' meeting
What happened · Jan 31, 2024
Ontario Health's own data show hallway patients were never eliminated; by January 2024 nearly 2,000 patients a day were in 'unconventional spaces', the highest since tracking began in 2017.
Three days after Ford's pledge, Health Minister Christine Elliott said it would 'likely take longer than a year'. Ontario Health's 2022-23 annual report put the daily average of patients on stretchers in hallways or other unconventional spaces at 1,326, its highest annual figure since tracking began. FOI data obtained by The Trillium showed nearly 2,000 such patients a day in January 2024, compared with about 1,000 a day from July 2017 to June 2018 and a low of 826 in June 2018. Ontario Health later moved to retire the metric from its public annual report.
“We are mapping out a reasonable and responsible path to balance. We are proud to say that we will achieve a balanced budget by 2023–24, while protecting what matters most to Ontario individuals, families and businesses.”
The audited Public Accounts recorded a deficit, not a balanced budget, for 2023–24.
The 2023–24 Public Accounts, released on September 19, 2024, recorded a $0.6 billion deficit for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024. That was the year the 2019 budget had set for balance. The COVID-19 pandemic came in between and the government revised its fiscal plan several times. Its 2023 budget had already projected a $1.3 billion deficit for 2023–24.
ParaphrasePremier Ford reaffirmed the government's commitment to working with the City of Toronto to upload the TTC subway infrastructure.
Ontario government news release, · Transit plan announcement, Metrolinx Willowbrook yard
What happened · Oct 16, 2019
On Oct. 16, 2019, the province agreed that Toronto would keep ownership of the existing subway, abandoning the upload.
The 2018 PC platform proposed uploading responsibility for building and maintaining new and existing subway lines to the province, and in August 2018 Ford said his government would deliver on its pledge to create a regional transportation system, after first consulting Toronto. On Oct. 16, 2019, the province and the City of Toronto announced a deal under which the existing subway stays city/TTC-owned, while the province owns and pays the city's share of new projects such as the Ontario Line and Scarborough extension. Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney called the upload "a means to an end". The February 2020 preliminary agreement states the existing subway remains the responsibility, and under the ownership, of the City and the TTC.
“We will make sure we take care of the 23,000 families. They will be off the wait-list in 18 months.”
Doug Ford, · Question Period, Legislative Assembly of Ontario
What happened · Jul 21, 2020
The province cancelled the reform meant to clear the wait-list in July 2019, and the Financial Accountability Office reported in July 2020 that the wait-list for needs-based autism services had grown to 27,600 children.
The Feb. 6, 2019 plan was to clear 23,000 children off the wait-list within 18 months using age-based Childhood Budgets. After protests, the government said on July 29, 2019 that it would build a needs-based program instead, and on Dec. 17, 2019 it said that program would be phased in through 2020 and 2021, with interim one-time payments of $5,000 or $20,000 offered to families still on the wait-list. On July 21, 2020, about 17 months after the promise, the Financial Accountability Office reported that the wait-list for needs-based services had grown to 27,600 in 2019-20 because the province had stopped enrolling children in needs-based therapy. Minister Todd Smith answered that more than 22,000 children were getting support through existing programs and one-time funding. After the deadline, on Feb. 3, 2021, the government said needs-based core clinical services would only begin in March 2021, starting with about 600 children, and it renewed interim payments for families still waiting. Later freedom-of-information figures showed 73,031 children waiting in June 2024 and 88,175 registered in January 2026, of whom 20,666 had core-services funding.
Eliminated 291 full-time positions in June 2019 (178 re-hired on nine-month contracts, 113 without jobs) after the province's change to autism funding stopped paying agencies like it as transfer-payment providers; the centre attributed the layoffs to the funding change (CBC, Global).
“That's why our government will continue to invest in the Ontario Arts Council at the 2017-18 level of $64.9 million.”
Brett Weltman, press secretary to Culture Minister Michael Tibollo, · Statement to Global News
What happened · May 26, 2019
The council's general grant from the province fell from $64,937,400 in 2018-19 to $59,937,400 in 2019-20, according to its audited financial statements. In 2023 the Globe reported the base grant had held at about $60 million since then.
In December 2018 the government cut the Ontario Arts Council's 2018-19 base funding from a planned $69.9 million back to $64.9 million. It also cut $2.25 million from the Indigenous Culture Fund. The minister's office said it would "continue to invest" in the council at $64.9 million. The 2019-20 expenditure estimates, reported on May 26, 2019, cut the council's allocation again and eliminated the Indigenous Culture Fund. The council's audited 2019-20 statements show the general grant from the province fell to $59,937,400, from $64,937,400 the year before. In March 2023 the Globe and Mail reported the base grant had "sat at $59,937,400" for each of the three previous fiscal years. That year the province confirmed $60 million in base funding and ended about $5 million in one-time grants. The council's 2023-24 statements again show a $59,937,400 general grant.
The council's general provincial grant fell from $64,937,400 in 2018-19 to $59,937,400 in 2019-20 (OAC audited statements). The Globe reported 2019-20 estimates giving it $10 million less, including $5 million from eliminating the Indigenous Culture Fund, and Global reported a $5 million cut to base funding and a $2.25 million suspension of that fund in December 2018.
“Launch an emission reduction fund – The Ontario Carbon Trust – and a reverse auction to encourage private investment in clean technology solutions. Ontario will commit to ensuring funding of $400 million over four years.”
Rod Phillips, environment minister (Environment Plan), · Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan launch
What happened · Apr 17, 2022
The Carbon Trust was never set up, and it was dropped from the government's revised 2030 emissions forecast in April 2022.
The 2018 plan set out a $350-million emission reduction fund plus a $50-million reverse auction, to be run by an independent board. In April 2022 the government posted a revised forecast for meeting its 2030 target. It made no mention of the Ontario Carbon Trust, which CBC News reported 'never materialized' and The Narwhal reported was 'never set up.' The four-year funding window from November 2018 ended without the fund being created.
“We are committed to reporting regularly on the progress we make on our plan and to developing key indicators of progress because we believe that transparency is important to the success of this plan. We are also committed to reviewing the environment plan every four years.”
Rod Phillips, environment minister (Environment Plan), · Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan launch
What happened · Oct 1, 2025
The Auditor General found no progress report had been released since 2021 and the plan had never been revised or finalized since 2018, and the government then repealed the legal requirement to report.
On October 1, 2025, the Auditor General reported that the environment ministry had posted progress updates only in 2019 and 2021. A September 2022 update repeated the 2021 information, and the ministry had published no new progress update in almost four years. The draft plan had not been updated since 2018 and was never presented to cabinet for approval, despite its own commitment to a review every four years. The ministry rejected the Auditor General's recommendation to report annually. Bill 68, which received royal assent on November 27, 2025, repealed the legal requirement to prepare a climate change plan and progress reports.
“Ontario will reduce its emissions by 30% below 2005 levels by 2030.”
Rod Phillips, environment minister (Environment Plan), · Made-in-Ontario Environment Plan launch
What happened · Nov 27, 2025
The government repealed the target in law: Bill 68 (S.O. 2025, c. 15), which received Royal Assent on November 27, 2025, repealed the sections of the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018 that required it to set emissions targets. The Auditor General had already found, on October 1, 2025, that the government's own projection shows Ontario missing the 2030 target.
On October 1, 2025, the Auditor General reported that the Province's own projection shows Ontario missing the 30% target by at least 3.5 megatonnes, and that the gap is likely to be larger. Environment Minister Todd McCarthy said that day the government would 'at least try' to meet the 2030 target. Bill 68, which received royal assent on November 27, 2025, repealed sections 3 to 5 of the Cap and Trade Cancellation Act, 2018, which had required the government to set emissions targets, prepare a climate change plan and report on progress. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said the government would 'focus on outcomes and not targets.'
“We will further reduce red tape for businesses by 25 per cent by 2022.”
Vic Fedeli, · 2018 Fall Economic Statement, Legislature
What happened · Sep 28, 2022
The government's own 2022 Burden Reduction Report measured a 6.5 per cent cut in regulatory compliance requirements by June 30, 2022, against the 25 per cent target.
The 2018 Fall Economic Statement set a target of cutting regulatory red tape by 25 per cent by 2022. The government's 2022 Burden Reduction Report, published September 28, 2022, said total regulatory compliance requirements fell 6.5 per cent between the June 29, 2018 baseline and June 30, 2022 (250,809 to 234,600). The same report described the target differently, as saving businesses at least $400 million a year in compliance costs, and said that dollar target was beaten ($576 million). By 2025 the government's Burden Reduction Report put the cumulative cut at "nearly 6 per cent" since 2018.
On Nov. 21, 2021 the premier's office said it was 'maintaining the status quo at this time' and would not restore the auditor general's pre-2015 veto over partisan ads; the veto had still not been restored when the auditor general reported on 2024-25 ad spending in December 2025.
In 2015 the Wynne Liberals narrowed the Government Advertising Act. After that, the auditor general could reject an ad as partisan only if it used a politician's name, voice or image, a party's colour or logo, or attacked another party. Before the change she could also block ads meant to give a 'positive impression' of the government. In opposition the PCs attacked the change, and in 2018 they promised to undo it. In April 2019, Treasury Board President Peter Bethlenfalvy said only 'We're reviewing it.' On Nov. 21, 2021, Ford spokesperson Ivana Yelich said the government was 'maintaining the status quo at this time.' The Canadian Press reported this as the PCs breaking their election promise. Since then the government has run campaigns that the auditor says would have failed the old test. CBC counted at least $38 million on such ads by March 2024, not including the roughly $8 million 'It's Happening Here' campaign. In December 2025, Auditor General Shelley Spence reported record spending of $111.9 million in 2024-25. She flagged nine campaigns worth about $43 million, 38 per cent of the total. In each, the main aim was to foster a 'positive impression' of the government, or the government gave no evidence for some of its claims. The spending came in the run-up to the February 2025 snap election.
In June 2019 the government's own merger of health agencies into Ontario Health laid off 416 back-office workers, after Ford had narrowed the pledge to 'front-line' workers only.
By March 2019 Ford's office was saying only that 'not a single front-line worker will lose their job', a narrower pledge than the campaign promise. On June 19, 2019 Health Minister Christine Elliott confirmed that 416 people in back-office positions would be laid off, and 409 vacant positions eliminated, as the government merged 20 agencies (including the 14 LHINs, Cancer Care Ontario and eHealth Ontario) into Ontario Health. Ford responded, 'I'll stick with my quote: No front-line person will lose a job.' CBC also reported layoffs of nurses, education workers and child advocate staff linked to provincial decisions.
Eliminated 291 full-time positions in June 2019 (178 re-hired on nine-month contracts, 113 without jobs) after the province's change to autism funding stopped paying agencies like it as transfer-payment providers; the centre attributed the layoffs to the funding change (CBC, Global).
The PCs posted a list of promises with dollar figures on May 30, 2018, but it had no fiscal outlook, no deficit figures and no path to balance. CBC reported on election night that the PCs were the only party that did not release a fully costed platform before election day.
On May 30, 2018 the PCs quietly posted 'Plan for the People': a list of pledges with a dollar figure next to each, but no fiscal plan, no deficit numbers and no path to balance. On May 31 in London, Ont., Ford said: "I'm not breaking my promise at all — we have a dollar figure right beside every single item." Economist Don Drummond said of the document: "I won't call it a platform." CBC reported on June 7, 2018 that the PCs were the only party that did not release a fully costed platform before election day.
“The basic income program is currently in a pilot stage, and we look forward to seeing the results.”
PC campaign spokesperson Melissa Lantsman, · Emailed statement to CBC Hamilton
What happened · Jul 31, 2018
On July 31, 2018 the government announced it was winding down the three-year pilot after about a year, and Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod acknowledged the reversal of the campaign position.
On July 31, 2018 Social Services Minister Lisa MacLeod announced the government was 'winding down' the three-year, $150-million basic income pilot for about 4,000 people in Hamilton, Brantford, Brant County, Thunder Bay and Lindsay, and cutting a planned 3% social assistance increase to 1.5%. The next day she told reporters, '[There's] the decision in the campaign and then you find the realities of when you're in government.' CBC called it 'the first broken promise of Premier Doug Ford's government.' The final payments went out in March 2019.
“When it comes to rent control, we're going to maintain the status quo.”
Doug Ford, · PC campaign media release, 2018 election
What happened · Nov 15, 2018
Six months after the election, the government exempted all units first occupied after November 15, 2018 from rent control, rolling back the 2017 expansion it had said it would leave in place.
On May 15, 2018, the PCs said they would not roll back the expanded rent control the Wynne Liberals brought in in 2017, which covered all private rental units. In the November 15, 2018 fall economic statement, the government announced that units first occupied after that date would be exempt from rent control. It legislated the change through Bill 57, which received Royal Assent on December 6, 2018 (S.O. 2018, c. 17). Tenancies that existed on November 15, 2018 kept rent control.
“A Doug Ford-led Ontario PC Government will introduce a 20% income tax cut for the middle class.”
Ontario PC Party campaign backgrounder (Doug Ford announcement), · 2018 campaign announcement, PC news release
What happened · Mar 26, 2026
Ontario's second income tax bracket rate is still 9.15% in 2026, years after the 2020-21 date Ford gave for the cut.
The PC release promised to cut the second-bracket rate from 9.15% to 7.32%, and Ford told reporters on May 10, 2018 that the cut would not be implemented until 2020-21. The rate was not cut: the Canada Revenue Agency's 2026 table still lists Ontario's second-bracket rate at 9.15%. The March 26, 2026 Ontario Budget made no changes to personal income tax rates.
The Financial Accountability Office found average bills rose 4.3% from 2018 to 2021, and Energy Ministry staff told the FAO the government would not cut bills 12% from 2018 levels.
A February 16, 2022 Financial Accountability Office report found the average residential bill rose 4.3% from 2018 to 2021 and was projected to rise about 2% a year. Ministry of Energy staff told the FAO the government would not cut bills 12% from 2018 levels; instead it counted the promise as met by keeping bills 12% lower than they would have been under the former Liberal Fair Hydro Plan, a gap the FAO said would not be reached until 2025. Energy Minister Todd Smith said the report confirmed bills would be 12% lower than under the Liberal plan. The subsidies are paid by taxpayers, at a cost the FAO put at $37.6 billion over 20 years for the Fair Hydro Plan replacement alone.
“Under Doug Ford's Plan for the People, an Ontario PC Government will invest in 15,000 new long-term care beds in five years, and 30,000 new beds over the next 10 years.”
Ontario PC Party campaign release, · PC campaign stop, Sarnia (party news release)
What happened · Oct 23, 2025
Five years on, by either the government's own count of new beds built (about 6,700 by fall 2025) or the FAO's count of total beds (79,212 in 2024-25), Ontario was far short of 15,000 new beds.
The Financial Accountability Office reported on Oct. 23, 2025 that Ontario had 79,212 long-term care beds in 2024-25 and projected 83,488 by 2027-28 under the government's spending plan; The Trillium reported this was up only 1,195 beds since 2018, and that the FAO said 24,529 more would be needed in 2028 to reach the separate 30,000 net-new target. The province's own fall 2025 fiscal update counted nearly 6,700 long-term care beds built, with 18,000 more in the pipeline, against a goal of 58,000 new and upgraded beds by 2028. The 30,000-net-new-beds-by-2028 pledge is not yet due, but Long-Term Care Minister Natalia Kusendova-Bashta did not dispute the FAO's findings.
“the Ontario PCs have pledged to cut corporate income taxes from 11.5% to 10.5% and enable businesses to create good paying jobs and attract businesses back to Ontario.”
Ontario PC Party news release (Doug Ford announcement), · Campaign stop in Cobourg, PC news release
What happened · Apr 11, 2019
The April 11, 2019 Ontario Budget dropped the promised one-point cut in favour of accelerated write-offs, and the general rate is still 11.5%.
The PCs pledged in April 2018 to cut the general corporate income tax rate from 11.5% to 10.5%. On April 11, 2019, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli's first budget dropped the cut in favour of the Ontario Job Creation Investment Incentive, an accelerated capital write-off; CBC reported that the budget 'scraps an anticipated one-per-cent cut in the corporate tax rate'. The Ministry of Finance still lists the general rate as 11.5% from July 1, 2011 onward. The March 26, 2026 budget again left it at 11.5% and cut only the small business rate.
“Corporate welfare is wrong, and political party welfare is equally wrong; I will put an end to both. That is why when I am elected Premier I will stand up for all Ontario taxpayers and eliminate the per-vote subsidy given to political parties in Ontario.”
Doug Ford, · FordNation Facebook post, PC leadership race
What happened · Nov 27, 2025
Instead of eliminating the per-vote subsidy, the Ford government extended it in 2021 and 2024 and made it permanent in Bill 68, which received Royal Assent on November 27, 2025.
Bill 57 (Royal Assent December 6, 2018) set the quarterly per-vote allowance to phase out by January 1, 2022. Bill 254, the Protecting Ontario Elections Act, 2021 (Royal Assent April 19, 2021), instead continued the allowances until January 1, 2025 and raised the rate to $0.636 per vote. Bill 220 (Royal Assent November 19, 2024), passed with all-party agreement, extended them through December 31, 2026. Bill 68, the Plan to Protect Ontario Act (Budget Measures), 2025 (No. 2) (Royal Assent November 27, 2025), repealed the not-yet-in-force phase-out and made the allowance permanent; the government said this followed a Chief Electoral Officer recommendation.
Elections Ontario lists the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario as a recipient of the quarterly per-vote allowance Ford promised in 2018 to eliminate. Bill 68 (Royal Assent Nov 27, 2025) repealed the provision that would have ended payments, so the allowance continues.
Elections Ontario lists the Ontario Liberal Party as a recipient of the quarterly per-vote allowance, which Bill 68 kept in place after Ford promised in 2018 to eliminate it. All parties supported the extension (Global News).
Elections Ontario lists the New Democratic Party of Ontario as a recipient of the quarterly per-vote allowance, which Bill 68 kept in place after Ford promised in 2018 to eliminate it. All parties supported the extension (Global News).
Elections Ontario lists the Green Party of Ontario as a recipient of the quarterly per-vote allowance, which Bill 68 kept in place after Ford promised in 2018 to eliminate it. All parties supported the extension (Global News).