-
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.
Read Original -
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.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Sudbury
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 19:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced that the City of Greater Sudbury will receive up to $45.3 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP). In exchange, the City of Greater Sudbury has committed to eliminating development charges for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029, a policy expected to reduce homebuilding costs by up to $22,162 per home and unlock 3,320 new homes. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) under a 10-year, $8.8 billion cost-matched infrastructure agreement. The DCRP funding will directly support improvements to local water and wastewater infrastructure, specifically transitioning the Garson East Drinking Water System and upgrading watermains and sanitary sewers in the Maley Drive growth corridor.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Essex County
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced up to $105.8 million in infrastructure funding through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) for regional and local municipalities in the County of Essex, including up to $51.2 million for Essex County, $77.6 million for the City of Windsor, $25.4 million for the Town of LaSalle, $11.8 million for the Municipality of Lakeshore, $8.4 million for the Town of Kingsville, $8.8 million for the Town of Essex, and $6.8 million for the Town of Tecumseh. In exchange, these municipalities have committed to reducing or eliminating development charges for all housing types between March 30, 2026, and December 31, 2030. Combined with a two-government agreement to provide relief on the full HST on eligible new homes from April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027, the initiatives are estimated to save homebuyers up to $170,862 per home and unlock 36,372 new homes across Essex County.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Windsor and Tecumseh
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-23 15:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $84.4 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) to the City of Windsor and the Town of Tecumseh in exchange for reducing development charges for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. Windsor will receive up to $77.6 million to reduce development charges by 70 percent, funding stormwater management and roadway infrastructure projects while saving homebuyers up to $49,452 per home. The Town of Tecumseh will receive up to $6.8 million to reduce development charges by 50 percent, supporting new trunk sanitary sewer infrastructure and saving homebuyers up to $18,078 per home. Combined with a federal-provincial agreement providing full HST relief on eligible new homes, these initiatives aim to unlock 19,263 new homes across the region.
Read Original -
Canada Post starting weekend parcel delivery in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa this fall
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-22 19:44:37.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta, Labour, Transportation, Finance]Canada Post has launched weekend parcel delivery in Ottawa and Montreal, with plans to expand to Toronto in late November 2026 and to Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary the following year, aiming to reach seven million households by the end of 2027. The Crown corporation reported a pre-tax loss of $482 million in the first half of 2026 and continues to rely on federal loans, though parcel revenue grew by 20.7 percent year-over-year in the second quarter. This operational restructuring follows a month-long national strike in December 2024 and the signing of a new collective agreement with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) that remains in effect until 2030.
Read Original -
Statement by Minister Quinn on Advancing Measures to Safeguard OSAP at Private Postsecondary Institutions
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Colleges and Universities
Date: 2026-10-20 21:25:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Education, Governance, Finance]The Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security (MCURES), utilizing third-party auditor KPMG, has launched in-person inspections at eight private career colleges as part of a broader system-wide audit. Pending upcoming legislative changes expected in early 2027 to enhance oversight and integrity, the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) remains paused for private postsecondary institutions. The forthcoming strengthened validation framework will introduce caps on OSAP-funded enrollment, exclude predominantly online-only programs, and mandate stricter student identification and verification controls.
Read Original -
Ontario Celebrates Small Business Week
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-10-19 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Finance, Industry, Labour]In recognition of Small Business Week, Associate Minister Nina Tangri highlighted that Ontario's over 500,000 small businesses employ nearly 2.5 million people. The 2026 Ontario Budget cut the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 per cent to 2.2 per cent, providing $1.1 billion in relief and up to $5,000 in annual savings to over 375,000 small businesses. Additionally, the government is investing a record $49 million over the next three years in the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBACs) network across more than 50 locations, alongside ongoing investments in Futurpreneur and Summer Company.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Guelph
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-16 15:20:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced up to $48.3 million for the City of Guelph through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) to support vital water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades, including the Biosolids Facility, Verney Booster Pumping Station, and Clythe Water Treatment Plant. In exchange, the City of Guelph has committed to reducing development charges by 30 per cent for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. This reduction is estimated to lower new home building costs by up to $21,623 per home, which, when combined with expanded HST relief on eligible new homes, could save families up to $151,623 and unlock an estimated 27,675 new homes.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Orillia
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-16 14:15:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $11.3 million to the City of Orillia through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in exchange for the municipality reducing development charges by 50 percent for all housing types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF). The reduction is estimated to lower homebuilding costs by up to $15,791 per unit, and when combined with expanded Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) relief, could save families up to $145,791. The municipal initiative and infrastructure investment—specifically supporting the expansion and modernization of the City's Wastewater Treatment Centre—are projected to unlock 2,025 new homes.
Read Original -
He followed a debunked conspiracy theory to claim a tax refund. So why did the CRA agree to a $40M payout?
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-16 08:00:00.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, British Columbia, Taxation, Finance, Public Safety]An investigative report by CBC's the fifth estate revealed that individuals following "sovereign citizen" conspiracy theories have successfully defrauded the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) of millions of dollars in bogus tax refunds due to severe gaps in fraud detection systems. In the summer of 2023, ironworker Jonathon Pearce of Temiskaming Shores, Ontario, filed false tax returns claiming more than $40 million, resulting in the CRA depositing over $10 million into his personal bank account despite internal red flags and a pre-refund phone call where he outlined his anti-tax beliefs. Leaked internal records show nearly $300 million in bogus claims linked to the same tax scheme were identified between May 2023 and January 2024, prompting the CRA to launch criminal investigations and execute search warrants against promoters such as Bernard Yankson and Angela Albright Bowolin in British Columbia.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in St. Thomas
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-10-15 18:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Affordability, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada are providing up to $19.6 million to the City of St. Thomas through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) and the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) to support the design and construction of a new wastewater treatment facility. In exchange, the City of St. Thomas has committed to reducing development charges by 30 per cent for single-detached and multi-unit housing, and 50 per cent for remaining unit types from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. This initiative is estimated to reduce building costs by up to $5,961 per home, save families up to $135,961 when combined with expanded HST relief, and unlock 6,196 new homes.
Read Original -
Ontario Clarifies Longstanding Out-of-Country Drug Funding Process
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Health
Date: 2026-10-06 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Healthcare, Affordability, Governance, Finance]The Government of Ontario has amended Regulation 552 of the Health Insurance Act to align with its longstanding out-of-country drug funding policy, restricting out-of-country funding to treatments where the drug and administration are publicly funded in Ontario, temporarily unavailable locally, and necessary to prevent death or irreversible tissue damage. According to the Ministry of Health led by Minister Sylvia Jones, the regulatory clarification aims to prevent global pharmaceutical companies from bypassing direct price negotiations with the province and avoids potential health-care system cost increases of up to $5.2 billion annually alongside $170 million in out-of-country treatment requests. This follows a recent Ontario Divisional Court decision concerning out-of-country drug funding, which the government is evaluating alongside options such as an appeal or a negotiated resolution with the applicant.
Read Original -
Ontario Building More Student Housing and Academic Spaces at Trent University
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Finance
Date: 2026-10-05 15:36:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Housing, Education, Finance, Infrastructure]The Ontario government is investing $100 million through the Building Ontario Fund as part of a $384 million financing package to support infrastructure expansion at Trent University in Peterborough. Delivered in partnership with Trent University, the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan (HOOPP), and project developer Knightstone Capital Management, the project will construct two new student residences—Gidigaa Migizi College and Otonabee College—on the East Bank of the Symons Campus, adding 1,400 student beds. Additionally, the development will create approximately 134,000 square feet of new academic and student space, including modern lecture halls and support amenities, with construction scheduled for completion in August 2029.
Read Original -
Alto high-speed rail project could cost more than originally thought: budget watchdog
Source: CBC Politics
Date: 2026-10-01 14:34:52.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Quebec, Infrastructure, Transportation, Transit, Finance]A new report from the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) indicates that the proposed Alto high-speed rail project connecting Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, and Montreal could cost between $75 billion and $113 billion, higher than official initial estimates of $60 billion to $90 billion. The Crown corporation Alto is overseeing the corridor project, with cost drivers primarily attributed to tunnels and elevated structures, which add $169 million and $153 million per kilometre respectively. The PBO estimates the construction will provide modest economic stimulus, raising real GDP by approximately $1.8 billion in 2029 and $2 billion by 2033 while creating between 4,300 and 9,000 jobs. Federal legislation such as Bill C-5 (the One Canadian Economy Act) may help mitigate project risks, land acquisition hurdles, and permitting delays.
Read Original -
Ottawa Commits Additional Funding for Federal Child Care Program in Ontario
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Education
Date: 2026-09-29 14:34:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, National, Education, Social Services, Affordability, Finance]Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra announced that the federal government has extended additional funding to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, maintaining current average child care fees at $19 a day with maximum caps at $22 per day until June 30, 2027. Between the 2021-22 and 2026-27 fiscal years, Ontario is investing approximately $34.5 billion in child care and early years programs, which includes $12.3 billion dedicated specifically to child care programs, fee subsidies, wage enhancements, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the CARE tax credit. Both governments have committed to ongoing discussions regarding long-term program sustainability beyond June 2027 to ensure continued stability for families and the child care sector.
Read Original -
As federal budget nears, Canada’s health ministers to meet to talk funding
Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-09-28 22:20:24.0
Tags: [National, Ontario, Healthcare, Finance]Canadian federal, provincial, and territorial health ministers are convening for an emergency meeting ahead of the upcoming federal budget to address concerns over the upcoming expiration of targeted healthcare funding. Provincial leaders, including Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones, warn of a fiscal cliff as bilateral agreements for home care, community care, and mental health and addiction services—part of the 2023 federal funding package totaling $200 billion over 10 years, which included $4.8 billion for home and community care and mental health, $3 billion for long-term care safety, and $1.7 billion for personal support worker wages—are set to sunset between 2026 and 2028. Additionally, the federal government's Canada Health Transfer growth rate is scheduled to drop from a guaranteed minimum of five percent annually to three percent after fiscal year 2027-28.
Read Original -
Ontario and Canada Making Homes More Affordable in Barrie
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Date: 2026-09-28 21:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Municipal, Housing, Affordability, Infrastructure, Finance]The governments of Ontario and Canada announced that the City of Barrie is receiving up to $129 million through the Development Charge Reduction Program (DCRP) in exchange for reducing residential development charges by 50 per cent from March 30, 2026, to March 31, 2029. The federal funding flows through the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) under a cost-matched structure agreed to in March 2026, providing up to $129 million to upgrade the City of Barrie wastewater treatment facility infrastructure, including constructing a new digester, converting the biological system to conventional fine-bubble diffused aeration, and building an advanced nutrient removal treatment train. The funding and municipal development charge reductions are estimated by the City of Barrie to unlock 23,364 new homes, reduce construction costs by up to $62,223 per home, and save families up to $192,223 when combined with expanded HST relief.
Read Original -
Ontario Protecting Workers by Investing in the Jobs of the Future
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-09-25 15:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Technology, Industry, Labour, Finance]The Government of Ontario is investing $30 million in the Vector Institute through the revamped Critical Technologies Initiative (CTI) program to advance artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across provincial industries and support the STEM workforce. The CTI program, which received an additional $107 million in Budget 2026, has committed a total of $214 million since 2023 to help retain and create over 65,000 jobs and train more than 14,000 highly skilled workers. The Vector Institute, based in Toronto, currently supports over 1,400 researchers, 41 CIFAR AI Chairs, and 119 post-doctoral fellows, aiming to bridge the gap between academic discovery and enterprise deployment.
Read Original -
Ontario Investing $49 Million to Strengthen Supports for Small Business
Source: Ontario - Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade
Date: 2026-09-24 14:00:00.0
Tags: [Ontario, Economy, Taxation, Industry, Finance]The Ontario government is investing a record $49 million over three years into the Ontario Small Business Advisory Centres (OSBAC) network—formerly known as Small Business Enterprise Centres—to provide business support services across more than 50 locations. Backed by Associate Minister of Small Business Nina Tangri, the funding aims to help entrepreneurs navigate economic uncertainty and U.S. tariffs by streamlining access to one-on-one consultations, advisory services, and provincial programs like Summer Company, Starter Company Plus, and Succession Ontario. This initiative is part of a broader economic plan that also includes cutting the small business corporate income tax rate from 3.2 percent to 2.2 percent, saving over 375,000 small businesses up to $5,000 annually and providing $1.1 billion in total tax relief over three years.
Read Original
