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A Plan to Protect Ontario
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Finance
Date: 2026-10-29 18:10:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Finance, Trade, Industry]Ontario Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2026 Ontario Economic and Fiscal Review: A Plan to Protect Ontario, projecting a deficit of $16.9 billion in 2026-27 and a return to a balanced budget in 2029-30. The fiscal plan features an $8 billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut tied to the federal Productivity Mega Deduction, an $8.7 billion Canada-Ontario action plan targeting the steel, automotive, and critical minerals sectors, and nearly $30 billion in cumulative tariff relief and business supports implemented since April 2025. Additionally, the government committed to streamlining 35 to 50 percent of the province's 375 business-facing permits by the end of 2028 and restoring capital expenditures as eligible under the Ontario Research and Development Tax Credit and Ontario Innovation Tax Credit to provide over $50 million in tax support over three years.
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Competition Bureau chief urges limits on non-compete clauses for workers
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 17:35:50.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Labour, Economy]Interim Commissioner of Competition Jeanne Pratt sent a letter on October 29 calling on provincial and territorial governments to limit the use of non-compete clauses to foster more competitive labour markets. Citing an OECD survey showing Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates of non-compete clauses—covering between 29 and 39 percent of private-sector employees, with 30 percent of firms applying them to all employees regardless of role—the Competition Bureau highlighted negative impacts on wage growth, job mobility, and entrepreneurship. The federal government committed in its 2025 budget to restricting non-compete agreements, while Ontario remains the only province to have enacted a statutory ban through its Employment Standards Act in 2021, which prohibits most new employment non-competes except for senior executives and the sale of a business.
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Joly says she will meet with Stelco owner if company gives 'concrete' plan to bring workers back
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-29 13:55:47.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a letter to Paul Simon, president of Stelco, stating she will only meet with the company and its American parent firm, Cleveland-Cliffs, if they provide a concrete plan to immediately recall 300 to 350 laid-off workers at the Hamilton steel plant. The dispute follows recent layoffs and public remarks by Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves regarding the rationale behind the 2024 acquisition. Minister Joly is evaluating potential legal action for non-compliance with undertakings under the Investment Canada Act, which require maintaining unionized employee levels at 2024 figures through 2029.
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U.S. steel CEO's 'confessions' for buying Stelco prompted government to call its lawyers: industry minister
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-28 16:11:32.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Labour, Trade, Economy]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly stated that department lawyers were consulted following public comments by Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves regarding the acquisition of Hamilton-based steelmaker Stelco. Goncalves admitted in a media interview that Cleveland-Cliffs purchased Stelco in 2024 specifically to prevent it from undercutting U.S. production facilities, prompting Ottawa to review potential legal consequences under the Investment Canada Act. The federal government previously issued a 15-day ultimatum to Cleveland-Cliffs demanding the reversal of announced layoffs at Stelco to maintain unionized employment levels agreed upon through 2029, threatening court action that could include financial penalties or forced divestment.
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Province Announces $8 Billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut to Support Investment and Create 30,000 Jobs
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Finance
Date: 2026-10-28 14:08:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Taxation, Economy, Finance, Trade, Industry]The Ontario Ministry of Finance announced the $8 billion Ontario Competitiveness Tax Cut as part of its multi-year Tax Action Plan to counter U.S. tariffs and lower business investment costs. Administered as the provincial counterpart to the federal Productivity Mega Deduction, the policy allows eligible businesses to immediately write off 100 per cent of capital investments in assets such as fibre-optic cables, software, aircraft, machinery, and patents. The measure is projected to drive at least $11 billion in new capital investment, add $6 billion to the provincial GDP, and support the creation of 30,000 new jobs over five years. Combined with prior initiatives from Budget 2026, total business tax relief will exceed $12 billion over five years, reducing Ontario's Marginal Effective Tax Rate to 3.6 per cent.
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Ontario Future-Proofs Economy by Strengthening Local Utilities
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Energy and Mines
Date: 2026-10-27 15:09:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Energy, Infrastructure, Economy, Governance, Trade]In response to U.S. tariffs and a projected doubling of electricity demand requiring grid expansions equivalent to adding the City of Toronto every six years, Ontario Minister of Energy and Mines Stephen Lecce announced legislative and regulatory reforms targeting the province's 58 local distribution companies (LDCs). Citing Electricity Distributors Association forecasts projecting up to $120 billion in distribution investments over the next two decades, the government's initiatives include driving Buy Ontario and Buy Canada joint procurements, implementing 10-year capital and workforce planning requirements, strengthening the governance of municipally owned LDCs like Oakville Hydro, London Hydro, and Oshawa Power, and enhancing consumer protections by banning winter disconnections for unit sub-meter providers serving multi-unit residential buildings. The reforms follow recommendations from the Panel for Utility Leadership and Service Excellence (PULSE) and are backed by major sector stakeholders including Hydro One, Toronto Hydro, Alectra Inc., Elexicon, and the Ontario Energy Association.
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Cleveland-Cliffs says Stelco in 'full compliance' with commitments to Ottawa, wants to meet with Joly
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-27 12:14:41.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Ohio-based parent company Cleveland-Cliffs announced that Stelco is in full compliance with its 34 undertakings under the Investment Canada Act, following a demand letter from Industry Minister Mélanie Joly giving the company a 15-day deadline to reverse 300 to 350 layoffs in Hamilton and 50 layoffs at the Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke. Despite Cleveland-Cliffs citing U.S. tariffs and the need to ensure company survival for the cutbacks, Joly rejected the rationale and stated that market changes do not relieve the company of its binding commitments. Cleveland-Cliffs requested a meeting with Minister Joly and CEO Lourenco Goncalves to discuss resuming full employment for the affected workers, though the minister has not yet responded.
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Ontario Funding More Than 2,900 Additional Seats in Northeast Ontario to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-26 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Healthcare, Economy]The Ontario government is investing $60 million to fund 2,946 additional postsecondary seats across eight institutions in Northeast Ontario, including Algoma University, Nipissing University, Collège Boréal, Sault College, Northern College, Canadore College, Cambrian College, and Université de Hearst. This funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment supporting more than 70,000 new seats province-wide in high-demand sectors such as STEM, health care, education, and trades, with enrollment beginning in the fall 2026 academic year. The initiative is designed to address regional labour market needs and develop a highly skilled workforce within the postsecondary sector.
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Canada-U.S. trade talks intensifying but wide gap remains, sources say
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-26 17:30:50.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Economy, Industry]Trade discussions between Canada and the United States have intensified amid the U.S. midterm elections, though Canadian government sources and chief trade negotiator Janice Charette emphasize that a deal is not imminent and a wide gap remains on key elements. U.S. President Donald Trump and National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett have suggested that progress is being made toward an agreement, while the White House recently removed certain tariffs on Canadian goods to assist U.S. Senator Susan Collins' campaign in Maine. Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated that a fair deal protecting steelworkers, autoworkers, and manufacturing workers would prompt him to restore American alcoholic beverages to Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) shelves.
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Ontario Funding More Than 2,700 Additional Seats at Toronto Metropolitan University to Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-23 20:30:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Labour, Economy, Technology, Healthcare]The Ontario government is investing $73 million to fund 2,776 additional postsecondary seats at Toronto Metropolitan University starting in the fall 2026 academic year. This allocation comprises 2,115 seats for STEM programs, 627 seats for health programs, and 34 seats for education programs. The funding is part of a broader $1.7 billion provincial investment supporting over 70,000 new seats across publicly assisted colleges and universities under a $6.4 billion postsecondary funding model.
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Ontario Introducing Changes to Improve Blue Box Program
Source: Ontario - Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
Date: 2026-10-23 18:14:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Environment, Economy, Governance]The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks is proposing legislative and regulatory changes to the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act and Ontario's Blue Box Regulation (O. Reg. 391/21) to increase transparency, accountability, and cost predictability for producers operating provincewide recycling services. The proposed changes will allow the province to regulate contract terms and fees between producer responsibility organizations (PROs) and producers, establish clearer reporting requirements, set service and bin allocation standards, explore collection of flexible plastics, and replace the current program administrator with a new independent administrator. These actions build upon prior cost-stabilization measures enacted in September 2025 to mitigate economic pressures on businesses amidst potential U.S. tariffs.
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Minister giving Stelco owner 15 days to reverse layoffs before turning to the courts
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 14:15:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Industry, Trade, Labour, Economy]Federal Industry Minister Mélanie Joly issued a 15-day demand letter to Ohio-based parent company Cleveland-Cliffs, threatening legal action under Section 40 of the Investment Canada Act if it does not reverse planned temporary layoffs of up to 500 workers at the Hamilton-based Stelco steel facility. The federal government asserts that the layoffs violate binding commitments made during Cleveland-Cliffs' 2024 acquisition of Stelco to maintain unionized and non-unionized employment levels through 2029. While Cleveland-Cliffs blamed the workforce reductions on U.S. steel tariffs aimed at ensuring the company's survival, Minister Joly dismissed market conditions as a valid reason to break binding investment commitments and warned that legal proceedings could include monetary penalties and a forced divestment from Stelco.
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Ontario Saving Businesses $160 Million as WSIB Lowers Premiums
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development
Date: 2026-10-22 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Labour, Taxation, Trade]The Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development announced that the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) will decrease its average premium rate from $1.23 to $1.18 per $100 of insurable payroll, effective January 1, 2027, saving employers a total of $160 million. This reduction applies to over 80 per cent of premium-paying businesses—encompassing approximately 330,000 insured businesses and 5.6 million workers—and lowers Ontario's average WSIB premium rate to nearly 30 per cent below the national average. The initiative is paired with broader provincial economic measures to offset U.S. tariffs, including cutting the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent to deliver $1.1 billion in relief, investing $150 million through the Ontario Together Trade Fund, expanding the $1 billion Protect Ontario Financing Program, and allocating $228 million through the Canada–Ontario Workforce Tariff Response.
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U.S. Embassy says Carney government brushing off 'potential interference' in midterms
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 21:03:27.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Governance, Economy]The U.S. Embassy in Ottawa released a fact sheet accusing the Canadian federal government and provincial officials of attempting to influence the upcoming U.S. midterm elections through targeted lobbying, advertising campaigns, and political event appearances related to an ongoing bilateral trade war and tariffs. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford strongly denied the interference allegations, maintaining that all policy responses and trade actions are executed strictly to protect Canadian workers, families, and domestic industries. U.S. trade adviser Peter Navarro and U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra previously warned that Canadian lobbying against tariffs in key U.S. border states like Michigan and Maine could result in severe economic repercussions.
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Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney Launch New Action Plan to Protect Workers from Tariffs and Strengthen Ontario Industries
Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
Date: 2026-10-21 19:30:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry, Infrastructure, Mining, Energy]The Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada announced a combined $8.7 billion action plan to protect workers and industries from U.S. tariffs. The package includes the Joint Steel Action Fund with $3.55 billion from the federal government and $1.67 billion from Ontario, an additional $2.5 billion over two years for large-scale automotive capital projects (up to $1.5 billion federal and $1 billion provincial), and a federal commitment of up to $1 billion over three years for essential road infrastructure in Northern Ontario’s Ring of Fire region. Additionally, light-duty vehicle greenhouse gas regulations will be maintained at 2026 levels (172 grams per mile) through 2029 to provide trade-related relief to the automotive sector.
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Premier Ford and Prime Minister Carney Launch New Action Plan to Protect Workers from Tariffs and Strengthen Ontario Industries
Source: Ontario - Premier's Office
Date: 2026-10-21 19:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Labour, Industry, Mining, Infrastructure]Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an $8.7 billion joint action plan to protect workers and industries from U.S. tariffs and global uncertainty. The initiative establishes a $5.22 billion Joint Steel Action Fund ($3.55 billion federal, $1.67 billion provincial), a $2.5 billion automotive manufacturing capital upgrade fund ($1.5 billion federal, $1.0 billion provincial), and a $1 billion federal matching investment for road infrastructure in Northern Ontario's Ring of Fire region. Furthermore, the plan creates bilateral task forces for steel, automotive, and critical minerals, implements tighter trade remedies through the Canada Border Services Agency, and leverages Buy Canadian and Buy Ontario procurement policies.
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Carney and Ford set to announce support for workers amid trade war
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 14:47:20.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Trade, Labour, Industry, Economy]Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are set to announce joint support measures for workers and industries impacted by ongoing United States tariffs. The announcement follows imminent layoffs at Stelco's Hamilton plant after pressure from U.S. tariffs forced production to concentrate at the Lake Erie Works plant in Haldimand. Industry Minister Melanie Joly stated that the federal government is pursuing potential financial penalties and forced divestiture under the Investment Canada Act due to multiple breaches of commitments by Stelco. Additionally, Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne announced that the federal budget will be released on November 5, 2026, following lowered economic growth projections by the Parliamentary Budget Officer of 0.9 per cent for 2026 and 1.5 per cent for 2027.
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Carney, Ford to announce funding for clean auto investments: source
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-21 13:59:35.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Economy, Trade, Industry, Environment]Prime Minister Mark Carney and Ontario Premier Doug Ford are scheduled to unveil a joint support package on Parliament Hill to assist Canadian auto companies making clean investments. The announcement comes in response to ongoing U.S.-Canada trade tensions—including U.S. tariff threats of up to 50 percent on cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel taking effect January 1, 2027—and addresses Canada's greenhouse gas standards following the U.S. Trump administration's rollback of federal fuel economy standards. Federal industry and finance ministers are expected to join the premier and prime minister for the announcement.
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Ontario Investing More Than $390,000 to Protect Workers in Hamilton from U.S. Tariffs
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-20 20:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Economy, Trade, Industry, Labour]The Ontario Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade is providing over $390,000 to the City of Hamilton through the $40 million Trade-Impacted Communities Program (TICP) to launch the $588,000 Hamilton Tariff Response Team (TRT). Administered by the City of Hamilton, the TRT will assist local steel and manufacturing businesses impacted by U.S. tariffs under Section 232 of the U.S. Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930. The initiative operates through two streams: delivering operational support for supply chain diversification into new markets and job retention, and expanding municipal data resources to help businesses adapt to trade disruptions.
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Ontario Strengthening Enforcement Against Illegal Cannabis Retail Operations
Source: Ontario - Ministry of the Attorney General
Date: 2026-10-19 16:13:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Justice, Public Safety, Economy, Governance]The Ontario government announced proposed legislative changes to grant the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO) expanded enforcement authorities against illegal cannabis storefronts and online operations, including the power to conduct inspections, seize illegal products and equipment, and issue administrative monetary penalties. The measures aim to address illegal retailers, who currently account for approximately 30 per cent of cannabis sales in the province, while protecting consumers and supporting the roughly 1,800 authorized cannabis retailers operating legally across Ontario.
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