Only Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs Will Protect Ontario
In the face of President Trump’s tariffs, Doug Ford and Ontario PCs will do whatever it takes to protect Ontario workers and business with critical tax and payroll relief
Vaughan, February 3, 2025 — In response to President Trump following through on threats to impose tariffs on Canada starting February 4, today Ontario PC candidates Peter Bethlenfalvy and Caroline Mulroney outlined the Ontario PC plan to protect Ontario with measures that will provide critical support for workers and businesses that are affected by tariffs and increase certainty for new investments.
“We always knew it was when, not if, with President Trump’s tariffs,” said Bethlenfalvy. “Canada didn’t start this costly and pointless tariff war with the United States, but we have to be prepared to win it. That means hitting back hard and doing whatever it takes to support Ontario workers and businesses.”
“We know many Ontario workers and businesses are facing tough times as a result of President Trump’s tariffs,” said Mulroney. “But no matter what, we will be there to protect Ontario, our workers and our businesses, and we’ll do what it takes to win this tariff war.”
The Ontario PC plan to protect workers and businesses includes:
- $10 billion in cash-flow support for Ontario employers through a six-month deferral of provincially administered taxes on Ontario businesses.
- $3 billion in payroll tax and premium relief for small businesses.
- $120 million to support approximately 18,000 bars and restaurants by increasing the LCBO wholesale discount from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.
- $40 million for a new Trade-Impacted Communities Program to support municipalities and communities that face major economic disruption stemming from new tariffs.
- $300 million to expand the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit to support more businesses that invest in buildings, machinery and equipment that are used for manufacturing and processing in Ontario, including investments to retool and onshore supply chains.
- $600 million for the Invest Ontario Fund so Ontario can continue attracting investments that create jobs in key sectors, including advanced manufacturing, life sciences and technology.
- Leveraging Ontario’s nearly $30 billion in annual provincial procurement, in addition to the $200 billion in Ontario’s plan to build, to prioritize Ontario steel, forestry products and other inputs for provincial infrastructure projects, purchase Ontario-made vehicles for government use and help local innovators access more government procurement opportunities. We will also ask and encourage municipalities to do the same in order to protect Ontario jobs and create new opportunities for Ontario and Canadian workers and businesses through their procurements.
- Urging the federal government to fairly and quickly distribute retaliatory tariff revenue to impacted workers and businesses.
Last week, the Ontario PCs outlined how a re-elected PC government will provide direct help for Ontario workers who are impacted by tariffs, including a $1 billion increase to the Skills Development Fund to support training in the skilled trades; investing an additional $100 million in the Better Jobs Ontario program; investing $38 million to mobilize action centres in the event of layoffs to provide immediate employment transition supports to affected workers; and advocating that the federal government work with provinces and territories to urgently and significantly expand worker protections, including employment insurance and the Wage Earner Protection Program.
“Whether in opportunity or in a crisis, there has never been a better partner of Ontario’s automotive sector than this government,” said Flavio Volpe, President of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association. “As we stare down the most dangerous threat to the health of automotive companies and jobs in our entire history, knowing that the province is with us strengthens our resolve to see this to the other side, strong and free.”
“Measures like returning even more WSIB surplus funds to eligible Ontario businesses, providing payroll tax relief and increasing the LCBO wholesale discount for bars and restaurants are strong actions to help Ontario small businesses mitigate the negative impacts of U.S. tariffs,” said Dan Kelly, President of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. “Unfortunately, our U.S. neighbours have forced us to fight an unwanted and unnecessary tariff battle, and all provinces, territories and the federal government must work together to offer both provincial and national small business solutions.”
“Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters forcefully advocated for a timely and bold response to President Trump’s unjustifiable tariffs, including extending the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, and we’re pleased to see this reflected in today’s announcement,” said Vincent Caron, Vice President, Ontario Government Relations and Member Advocacy. “Now more than ever, all provincial and federal parties need to follow suit and provide detailed plans to match this investment in improving productivity and securing jobs.”
“Amid ongoing industry challenges and during a particularly vulnerable time resulting from President Trump’s tariffs, increasing wholesale discounts for restaurants and bars on LCBO purchases will significantly support those relying on alcohol sales and will protect jobs,“ said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. “This government under Premier Ford has already made key moves to aid the sector, including freezing alcohol taxes, allowing alcohol delivery and takeout, and delivering a wholesale discount in 2022, all of which shows their strong commitment to sustaining Ontario’s restaurant industry.”
Only Doug Ford has a plan to protect Ontario:
- Building Ontario’s economy by investing more than $200 billion in our plan to build roads, highways, transit and other infrastructure projects while investing over $2.5 billion to train more than one million people for better jobs and bigger paycheques in the skilled trades.
- Protecting workers in the face of President Trump’s tariffs by doing whatever is necessary to protect people’s livelihoods, including by investing tens of billions of dollars to keep people working.
- Keeping us competitive by fighting the job-killing Liberal carbon tax and urging the federal government to cut red tape and streamline approvals to get big things built.
- Cleaning up our streets by protecting families and children by banning drug injection sites near schools and daycares and clearing out encampments from public parks with new investments in shelters.
- Delivering better care, including by investing $1.8 billion more to connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care.
Doug Ford will never stop working to protect Ontario.
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