Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government opened a new legislative session Tuesday with a sharply worded Speech from the Throne, vowing to protect the province from economic fallout tied to newly imposed tariffs by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Delivered by Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont at Queen’s Park, the address set the tone for Premier Doug Ford’s third majority government by positioning Ontario as a bulwark against what the government described as “existential threats” to Canada’s economy and sovereignty.
Dumont warned that Ontario’s long-standing trade relationship with the United States can no longer be taken for granted.
“Canada is not for sale. Canada will never be the 51st state,” Dumont read on behalf of the government, in a rare direct rebuke of a U.S. president during a Throne Speech.
“Your government is united in its determination to protect Ontario and to protect Canada, no matter what”, she added.
The speech laid out an aggressive economic and legislative agenda, including $11 billion in emergency support for workers and businesses, new legislation to eliminate domestic trade barriers, and a bold plan to fast-track development of the province’s critical mineral resources, especially in the Ring of Fire.
“The frontline in Canada’s battle against President Trump’s economic threats rests in the Ring of Fire,” Dumont stated, announcing legislation that would designate mineral-rich zones as areas of strategic economic importance. The plan includes expedited permitting, streamlined environmental assessments, and equity partnerships for Indigenous communities.
The government also pledged to expand clean energy capacity with a major push toward new nuclear development, including small modular reactors and potential new large-scale facilities in Bruce County and Port Hope.
Investments in infrastructure and transit will continue, including a new tunnel under Highway 401, an expanded GO train network, and the return of Northlander passenger rail service.
On health care, the government reaffirmed its $50-billion commitment to hospital upgrades and construction, as well as its promise that residents “will always access care with their OHIP card, never their credit card.”
It also touted efforts to connect every resident with a family doctor within four years.
The Throne Speech concluded by framing the moment as a historic turning point for Ontario, evoking past conflicts such as the War of 1812 and asserting that the province’s strength lies in its people’s resilience.
“Much like the current occupant of the White House, President Jefferson greatly underestimated the strength and resilience of the Canadian people,” Dumont said, drawing a pointed comparison between Trump and the U.S. president who led during the attempted American invasion of Canada.
The message was clear: Ontario intends to chart a more self-reliant path, reduce dependence on cross-border trade, and confront uncertainty with what the government described as bold, necessary action.
While the speech offered few new spending details, it laid out the political and economic narrative the Ford government plans to advance as Ontario grapples with global volatility and rising protectionism from its largest trading partner.
