Pattern
Cancel, renegotiate, or ignore contracts, often incurring penalties or legal costs.
Cumulative Documented Cost
Pattern Sequence
750 renewable energy contracts cancelled, $231M in penalties (2018)
Beer Store contract renegotiated at massive public cost
Ontario Place: cost escalates from $350M to $2.2B+ (Auditor General, Dec 2024)
Government claims fiscal responsibility despite net losses
Documentation
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Cancelled 758 renewable energy contracts immediately upon taking office, costing taxpayers $231M in penalties with zero electricity produced.
Cancelled Ontario's cap and trade program, forfeiting $3B in revenue according to the FAO. Saved drivers pennies, cost the treasury billions.
Ontario's electricity pricing decisions cascade through the entire food chain — from farm to processor to cold storage to grocery shelf. Ford cancelled 758 renewable energy contracts ($231M in penalties), while $118.1B in electricity subsidies over 20 years props up a system where energy is one of the largest input costs for Ontario food producers.
The Eglinton Crosstown LRT finally opened in February 2026 after finishing six years late and billions over budget — ballooning from a $4.6 billion original estimate to approximately $13 billion. Premier Ford acknowledged the project was a "nightmare" but refused calls for a public inquiry, calling it a "waste of time." Businesses along Eglinton — particularly in Little Jamaica — suffered through 15 years of construction with little compensation.
In December 2019, the Ford government abruptly cancelled the fully-funded Hamilton LRT, claiming costs had "ballooned" from $1 billion to $5.5 billion. Critics and the city revealed the province had included 30 years of operating costs to inflate the figure. Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney required a police escort out of Hamilton after the announcement. The project was eventually revived with federal support.
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 government broke the Beer Store contract to allow expanded alcohol sales, costing taxpayers up to $1.4 billion.
The government eliminated license plate renewal fees, costing the treasury approximately $1.1 billion annually.
The Ontario Line subway project has more than doubled in cost from $10.9 billion to over $27 billion while being delayed by four years.
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