Who's Responsible?

Shoppers Drug Mart billed Ontario $81 million for medication reviews over two years—more than the previous six years combined—while pharmacists reported corporate pressure to conduct unnecessary reviews and meet targets.

Former Health Minister Christine Elliott became a lobbyist for Clearpoint Health Network—whose Don Mills clinic received a 278% funding increase during her tenure—and now lobbies for more funding while the chain gets paid double what public hospitals receive for identical surgeries.

Hospital funding increases failed to keep pace with inflation, producing real-dollar cuts. Two 2026 CCPA reports document the consequences: a $3 billion FAO-documented funding shortfall, a 67% rise in 90th-percentile ER assessment waits, a 52% rise in admission waits, and 55% of hospitals in deficit with 70% projected for 2025/26.

The government dramatically expanded funding for private surgical clinics while public hospital operating rooms sit empty due to staffing shortages.

Systematic expansion of for-profit home care delivery while public and non-profit providers face funding challenges, shifting public healthcare dollars to private shareholders.

On April 13, 2026, Education Minister Paul Calandra introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, which caps elected trustees at 12 per board (nearly halving TDSB's current count of 22), caps trustee honoraria at $10,000, replaces directors of education with ministry-appointed CEOs requiring business credentials, gives the Ministry of Education tie-breaking authority over board budgets and sole authority to terminate CEOs, and designates the Council of Ontario Directors of Education as the central bargaining agency for English public and Catholic boards. French-language boards are largely untouched. ETFO characterized the legislation as an "unprecedented rollback of local democracy."

The Ford government announced that beginning fall 2026, provincial OSAP grants will be capped at 25% of aid — down from up to 85% — with the remaining 75% issued as repayable loans. Students at private career colleges lose grant eligibility entirely. Combined with lifting a seven-year tuition freeze (allowing 2% annual increases), the changes dramatically increase student debt burdens. A student who previously received $8,500 in grants on $10,000 of aid will now receive just $2,500 in grants and $7,500 in loans.

Ontario spends 10 cents per student per day on school food — the lowest in Canada and a quarter of the national median. Despite a $108.5M federal deal, Ford's government hasn't increased its own core investment in a decade, leaving 2 million+ students underserved.

Laurentian University became the first public Canadian university to file for creditor protection, cutting 69 programs and 195 jobs after the Ford government refused a $100 million funding request and excluded it from pandemic relief.

The government has cut $3.1 billion from education since 2018, resulting in larger class sizes, fewer educators, and deteriorating school infrastructure.

On April 13, 2026, Education Minister Paul Calandra introduced the Putting Student Achievement First Act, which caps elected trustees at 12 per board (nearly halving TDSB's current count of 22), caps trustee honoraria at $10,000, replaces directors of education with ministry-appointed CEOs requiring business credentials, gives the Ministry of Education tie-breaking authority over board budgets and sole authority to terminate CEOs, and designates the Council of Ontario Directors of Education as the central bargaining agency for English public and Catholic boards. French-language boards are largely untouched. ETFO characterized the legislation as an "unprecedented rollback of local democracy."

The Ford government announced that beginning fall 2026, provincial OSAP grants will be capped at 25% of aid — down from up to 85% — with the remaining 75% issued as repayable loans. Students at private career colleges lose grant eligibility entirely. Combined with lifting a seven-year tuition freeze (allowing 2% annual increases), the changes dramatically increase student debt burdens. A student who previously received $8,500 in grants on $10,000 of aid will now receive just $2,500 in grants and $7,500 in loans.

Ontario spends 10 cents per student per day on school food — the lowest in Canada and a quarter of the national median. Despite a $108.5M federal deal, Ford's government hasn't increased its own core investment in a decade, leaving 2 million+ students underserved.

Laurentian University became the first public Canadian university to file for creditor protection, cutting 69 programs and 195 jobs after the Ford government refused a $100 million funding request and excluded it from pandemic relief.

The government has cut $3.1 billion from education since 2018, resulting in larger class sizes, fewer educators, and deteriorating school infrastructure.

Ontario committed $300 million in public mezzanine debt through the Building Ontario Fund to anchor a $1.3 billion fund — managed by private firm High Art Capital — to purchase roughly 2,200 unsold GTA condos and convert them into rental units. Only 25% of units will have below-market rents. Critics argue the fund is a liquidity lifeline for developers facing bankruptcy, effectively putting a price floor under the condo market at taxpayer expense.

Legislation cut development charges by billions of dollars, shifting infrastructure costs from developers to municipalities and taxpayers.

Despite sweeping policy changes, the government's target of 1.5 million homes by 2031 is far off track.

A four-year arc of municipal-authority centralization: Bill 3 (2022) gave Toronto/Ottawa mayors unilateral override on housing matters; the powers expanded to 169 municipalities; in April 2026 the Better Regional Governance Act would let the province directly appoint regional chairs in 8 regions with similar "strong chair" powers, and a parallel bill would give the Transportation Minister regulation-making power over transit fares.

The government issued over 100 Minister's Zoning Orders in five years, a 17-fold increase, bypassing local planning and environmental review.

The first-ever province-wide LCBO strike occurred in response to government plans to expand alcohol privatization.

The government invoked the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract on education workers and ban strikes, then reversed course after two weeks following widespread backlash.

$4B WSIB surplus paid to employers as rebates instead of increasing benefits for injured workers, many of whom live in poverty.

$742M in public training funds awarded to low-ranked applicants; 63% of funding went to PC party donors. Government now suing one recipient for fraud.

Legislation capping public sector wage increases at 1% annually for three years, later struck down as unconstitutional by the courts.

The Auditor General found the government repeatedly violated Ontarians' environmental rights by bypassing public consultation requirements.

Seven premiers coordinate demand to pause carbon tax, using identical "cash grab" framing.

The government removed 7,400 acres from the protected Greenbelt for development, benefiting connected developers, then reversed course after investigations revealed improper conduct.

A controversial 59km highway cutting through 2,000 acres of farmland and the Greenbelt, primarily benefiting land developers with government connections.

Legislation stripped conservation authorities of their ability to block development, prioritizing construction over flood protection and environmental conservation.

Ford announced Billy Bishop Airport as Ontario's first special economic zone under Bill 5, seizing the city's ~20% land stake and suspending unspecified provincial and municipal laws to allow runway expansion and jet traffic.

In January 2026, the Ford government proposed a two-year pause on inclusionary zoning rules in Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener — the regulations that require developers to include affordable housing units in new buildings near major transit stations. Mayors Olivia Chow and Carolyn Parrish condemned the move as a developer handout that removes the public benefit of building expensive transit lines.

In mid-2025, it emerged that a major component of the province's GO Transit expansion plan — including a 25-year operating agreement with a private consortium — had been quietly cancelled or significantly de-scoped without public explanation. Metrolinx, which now has over 100 Vice Presidents, refused to disclose why the project collapsed or how much taxpayer money was spent on initial phases.

The Ford government passed two pieces of bike lane legislation: Bill 212 (Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024) requiring provincial approval for new bike lanes, and Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025) banning cities from removing traffic lanes for bike lanes entirely. The laws target lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University in Toronto. The City estimated removal would cost $48 million — more than the lanes cost to build. A court found the legislation unconstitutional in July 2025; Ford threatened the notwithstanding clause.

In September 2024, Ford proposed building a massive tunnel underneath Highway 401. By November 2025, the government had awarded a $9.1 million feasibility study to WSP Canada. Transportation experts called the idea "astronomically expensive" and unlikely to address traffic, suggesting the funds and political will should be directed toward the underutilized Highway 407 or expanded rail transit instead.

Ford announced Billy Bishop Airport as Ontario's first special economic zone under Bill 5, seizing the city's ~20% land stake and suspending unspecified provincial and municipal laws to allow runway expansion and jet traffic.

In January 2026, the Ford government proposed a two-year pause on inclusionary zoning rules in Toronto, Mississauga, and Kitchener — the regulations that require developers to include affordable housing units in new buildings near major transit stations. Mayors Olivia Chow and Carolyn Parrish condemned the move as a developer handout that removes the public benefit of building expensive transit lines.

In mid-2025, it emerged that a major component of the province's GO Transit expansion plan — including a 25-year operating agreement with a private consortium — had been quietly cancelled or significantly de-scoped without public explanation. Metrolinx, which now has over 100 Vice Presidents, refused to disclose why the project collapsed or how much taxpayer money was spent on initial phases.

The Ford government passed two pieces of bike lane legislation: Bill 212 (Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act, 2024) requiring provincial approval for new bike lanes, and Bill 60 (Fighting Delays, Building Faster Act, 2025) banning cities from removing traffic lanes for bike lanes entirely. The laws target lanes on Bloor, Yonge, and University in Toronto. The City estimated removal would cost $48 million — more than the lanes cost to build. A court found the legislation unconstitutional in July 2025; Ford threatened the notwithstanding clause.

In September 2024, Ford proposed building a massive tunnel underneath Highway 401. By November 2025, the government had awarded a $9.1 million feasibility study to WSP Canada. Transportation experts called the idea "astronomically expensive" and unlikely to address traffic, suggesting the funds and political will should be directed toward the underutilized Highway 407 or expanded rail transit instead.

Chronic underfunding has created a crisis in child welfare, with 39 agencies running deficits and children dying at a rate of one every three days.

Premiers blame carbon tax for grocery inflation while corporate profits hit record highs and Bank of Canada data shows carbon pricing adds under 1% to food costs.

Conservative premiers coordinate "cost of living crisis" messaging blaming federal carbon tax while provincial policies on housing, energy, and healthcare drive actual costs.

Premiers blame carbon tax for electricity costs while provincial privatization, contract cancellations, and policy decisions caused most rate increases.

The Ford government slashed $133 million (30%) from Legal Aid Ontario's budget in April 2019, forcing clinic closures and eliminating refugee services, before partially backtracking eight months later under public pressure.

Chronic underfunding has created a crisis in child welfare, with 39 agencies running deficits and children dying at a rate of one every three days.

Premiers blame carbon tax for grocery inflation while corporate profits hit record highs and Bank of Canada data shows carbon pricing adds under 1% to food costs.

Conservative premiers coordinate "cost of living crisis" messaging blaming federal carbon tax while provincial policies on housing, energy, and healthcare drive actual costs.

Premiers blame carbon tax for electricity costs while provincial privatization, contract cancellations, and policy decisions caused most rate increases.

The Ford government slashed $133 million (30%) from Legal Aid Ontario's budget in April 2019, forcing clinic closures and eliminating refugee services, before partially backtracking eight months later under public pressure.

Chronic underfunding has created a crisis in child welfare, with 39 agencies running deficits and children dying at a rate of one every three days.

Premiers blame carbon tax for grocery inflation while corporate profits hit record highs and Bank of Canada data shows carbon pricing adds under 1% to food costs.

Conservative premiers coordinate "cost of living crisis" messaging blaming federal carbon tax while provincial policies on housing, energy, and healthcare drive actual costs.

Premiers blame carbon tax for electricity costs while provincial privatization, contract cancellations, and policy decisions caused most rate increases.

The Ford government slashed $133 million (30%) from Legal Aid Ontario's budget in April 2019, forcing clinic closures and eliminating refugee services, before partially backtracking eight months later under public pressure.

Ontario committed $300 million in public mezzanine debt through the Building Ontario Fund to anchor a $1.3 billion fund — managed by private firm High Art Capital — to purchase roughly 2,200 unsold GTA condos and convert them into rental units. Only 25% of units will have below-market rents. Critics argue the fund is a liquidity lifeline for developers facing bankruptcy, effectively putting a price floor under the condo market at taxpayer expense.

Legislation cut development charges by billions of dollars, shifting infrastructure costs from developers to municipalities and taxpayers.

Despite sweeping policy changes, the government's target of 1.5 million homes by 2031 is far off track.

A four-year arc of municipal-authority centralization: Bill 3 (2022) gave Toronto/Ottawa mayors unilateral override on housing matters; the powers expanded to 169 municipalities; in April 2026 the Better Regional Governance Act would let the province directly appoint regional chairs in 8 regions with similar "strong chair" powers, and a parallel bill would give the Transportation Minister regulation-making power over transit fares.

The government issued over 100 Minister's Zoning Orders in five years, a 17-fold increase, bypassing local planning and environmental review.

The Ford government sole-sourced a contract to move ServiceOntario locations into US-owned Staples stores, costing $11.7 million—$1.5 million more than announced.

Manufactured a structural crisis using a misleading roof report to justify closing the Science Centre and relocating it to Ontario Place to support the Therme spa deal.

The government eliminated license plate renewal fees, costing the treasury approximately $1.1 billion annually.

The government demolished public parkland to build a private mega-spa with approximately $1 billion in public subsidies.

The Ford government chose not to pursue approximately $1 billion in congestion penalties owed by the private owners of Highway 407 ETR, forgiving the debt with no benefit to Ontario drivers.

The first-ever province-wide LCBO strike occurred in response to government plans to expand alcohol privatization.

The government invoked the notwithstanding clause to impose a contract on education workers and ban strikes, then reversed course after two weeks following widespread backlash.

$4B WSIB surplus paid to employers as rebates instead of increasing benefits for injured workers, many of whom live in poverty.

$742M in public training funds awarded to low-ranked applicants; 63% of funding went to PC party donors. Government now suing one recipient for fraud.

Legislation capping public sector wage increases at 1% annually for three years, later struck down as unconstitutional by the courts.