Spring legislature concludes with the passage of 10 bills that will protect Ontario workers, businesses and communities
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario’s spring sitting has concluded following the passage of 10 historic government bills, part of the government’s plan to protect Ontario by building the most competitive and resilient economy in the G7. This legislation includes important measures aimed at unlocking free trade within Canada, unleashing the vast economic potential of the Ring of Fire and Ontario’s critical minerals, protecting communities from violent repeat offenders and improving health care and education, in addition to Ontario’s 2025 provincial budget. In total, this recently passed legislation amended 54 existing acts and created 11 new acts.
“Voters gave us a strong mandate to protect Ontario against U.S. tariffs by building a stronger, more competitive economy that can withstand whatever comes our way,” said Premier Doug Ford. “The legislation we have introduced and passed over the recent sitting delivers on that mandate and will help protect our workers, businesses and communities for generations to come.”
Over the coming months, the government will continue delivering on its mandate to protect Ontario through a number of initiatives, including hosting the Council of the Federation in Ontario in July, signing additional internal trade agreements with provinces and territories, meeting with community members, municipal partners and other stakeholders throughout the summer and working to effectively implement the legislation that has been passed in the recent sitting.
Since the first session of the 44th Parliament began on April 14, the government has put forward a Speech from the Throne with a bold vision to protect Ontario and introduced and passed legislation, including the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, that will:
- Tear down interprovincial barriers to the free movement of goods and labour through the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, 2025, and by signing agreements with six provinces so far, with more to come
- Accelerate critical mineral and resource development projects, including in the Ring of Fire, through the Protect Ontario by Unleashing our Economy Act, 2025
- Cut red tape and speed up construction of new homes and infrastructure through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act, 2025
- Establish a framework for Ontario’s publicly funded primary care system so that people in Ontario know what they can expect when accessing primary care services through the Primary Care Act, 2025
- Strengthen governance and transparency, enhancing patient care and improving service delivery through the More Convenient Care Act, 2025
- Protect communities and victims of crime, including intimate partner violence and human trafficking, through the Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, 2025
- Help make communities safer by empowering municipalities to deal with encampments while investing in supportive housing through the Safer Municipalities Act, 2025.
The government has also introduced the following pieces of legislation, which remain before the legislature for consideration when it reconvenes on October 20, and include initiatives to:
- Protect Ontario workers and the economy in the face of U.S. tariffs and create safer workplaces through the Working for Workers Seven Act, 2025
- Strengthen government oversight, accountability and transparency in public school boards, postsecondary education and children’s aid societies through the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025
- Meet rising demand, while keeping energy affordable, secure, reliable and clean for generations to come, through the Protect Ontario by Securing Affordable Energy for Generations Act, 2025
- Support the province’s goal of cutting red tape to make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business through the Protect Ontario by Cutting Red Tape Act, 2025
- Protect communities in Peel Region by giving Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon the tools they need to provide high-quality services to local taxpayers as they continue to grow through the Peel Transition Implementation Act, 2025
- Strengthen local governance by creating a standardized municipal code of conduct through the Municipal Accountability Act, 2025
- Improve quality of life and protect seniors and those who care for them across the province through the Support for Seniors and Caregivers Act, 2025
- Enhance public safety and disaster response measures, including the deployment of Ontario Corps in emergencies, through the Emergency Management Modernization Act, 2025
- Help protect communities from the risk of wildland fires and hazardous oil and gas wells, and enabling the use of carbon storage technologies, through the Resource Management and Safety Act, 2025.
Quick Facts
- The first session of the 44th Parliament in the Ontario legislature began on April 14, 2025.
- On April 7, the government announced that it was providing approximately $11 billion in relief and support to workers and businesses to protect the province’s economy from economic uncertainty and the impact of U.S. tariffs.
- Internal trade barriers are estimated to cost Canada’s economy $200 billion every year and increase what families and businesses pay for goods and services by nearly 15 per cent.
- So far this year, Ontario has signed Memorandums of Understanding with six provinces on expanding interprovincial trade; as it stands, trade between Ontario and those six provinces is valued at over $117 billion dollars per year.
- Ontario has welcomed nearly $70 billion of investment in key sectors, helping to create nearly one million new jobs since 2018.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
