Ontario Business Coalition Recommends Priorities for Ford’s New Government

(TORONTO – March 19, 2025) – As Premier Doug Ford and his new cabinet take office, Ontario’s business community is calling for swift action to safeguard the province’s economy from rising geopolitical tensions and trade disruptions.

Today, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) and its Ontario Business and Trade Leadership Coalition (OBTLC)—representing key trade-focused sectors—released a letter outlining urgent priorities to strengthen Ontario’s competitiveness, reduce its vulnerability to U.S. policies, and strengthen its resilience in an increasingly uncertain global landscape.

“We congratulate Premier Ford and his cabinet, and look forward to working together to build a stronger, more resilient economy,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “With mounting trade tensions, increasing tariffs, and heightened economic uncertainty, Ontario must act now to protect businesses, attract investment, and secure its long-term prosperity. That means removing trade barriers, expanding market opportunities, strengthening our workforce, and making strategic investments to keep Ontario competitive. We must both support the industries of today and strengthen the foundation for the industries of tomorrow.”

The letter outlines key priorities, including:

Immediate actions:

• Defend and strengthen business resilience: Support trade-exposed sectors with policies and targeted supports that reduce investor risk, protect capacity, and enhance productivity—focusing on long-term competitiveness over short-term subsidies.
• Ensure a strategic and coordinated trade response: Work with business leaders and chambers to mitigate risks from Canadian retaliatory tariffs, ensuring critical sectors are protected and uncertainty is minimized.

Long-term actions:

• Dismantle interprovincial trade barriers: Set clear goals to remove trade restrictions, sign mutual recognition agreements, and unilaterally recognize standards, where appropriate, to expand market opportunities within Canada.
• Expand Ontario’s trading relationships: Improve financial stability, trade resources, market intelligence, and export logistics to support businesses in accessing new markets.
• Enhance Ontario’s business and investment climate: Streamline regulations, simplify taxes for SMEs, reduce administrative burdens, and safeguard resource sector investments to boost manufacturing to position Ontario as a top-tier destination for investment.
• Expand workforce training and talent supply: Fully fund post-secondary enrolment expansion, align program funding with labour needs, and accelerate immigration and credential recognition for skilled workers.
• Strengthen Ontario’s infrastructure and supply chains: Invest in transportation, domestic procurement, broadband, energy, and leverage public-private partnerships for housing.

The OCC extends its gratitude to the OBTLC and recognizes its co-chairs, James Scongack, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Bruce Power, and Chris Conway, Chief Executive Officer of Food and Beverage Ontario, for their leadership and dedication to strengthening Ontario’s economy.

The Chamber also thanks Premier Ford for his continued leadership—both as Premier and as the Chair of the Council of the Federation—during this critical time, and looks forward to working with all orders of government to build inclusive, sustainable prosperity.

To read the coalition’s recommendation in more detail, visit our website and view the letter.

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About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) is the indispensable partner of business and Canada’s largest, most influential provincial chamber. It is an independent, non-profit advocacy and member services organization representing a diverse network of 60,000 members. The OCC convenes, mobilizes, and empowers business and local chambers in pursuit of its purpose: to bring inclusive and sustainable prosperity to Ontario’s businesses, workers, and communities.

For more information, please contact:

Andrea Carmona
Senior Manager of Public Affairs
Ontario Chamber of Commerce
andreacarmona@occ.ca | Mobile: (647) 234-0255