Only Doug Ford Has A Plan to Protect Ontario Workers By Investing in Infrastructure
Ontario PCs ready to invest billions more in infrastructure projects to create new jobs, including
by widening the QEW in Niagara
Niagara Falls, January 31, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford, leader of the Ontario PCs, announced
that he will invest an additional $22 billion in the PCs’ nearly $200 billion plan to build, which is
already the largest in Canadian history. This expanded plan to build will help protect Ontario’s
workers and economy by creating new jobs across the province. In Niagara Region, Ford said
that a re-elected PC government would widen the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) between
Burlington and St. Catharines to keep people working and help get drivers out of gridlock.
“In the face of U.S. tariffs and the devastation they would cause to our economy, we’re going to
invest even more in our plan to build so we can get shovels in the ground and keep people
working,” said Doug Ford. “While the previous Liberal government left Ontario saddled with a
massive infrastructure deficit, our PC team is helping create jobs for skilled tradespeople across
the province as we build the roads, transit, homes, hospitals, schools and highways our growing
province needs, including by widening the QEW here in Niagara.”
When implemented, U.S. tariffs on Canada would put 450,000 jobs at risk, including in
manufacturing, construction, service sectors and retail. With President Trump making numerous
threats against Ontario and Canada’s economy and sovereignty, the province is entering a
period of unprecedented economic risk and lengthy negotiations – against President Trump and
with the federal government and other provinces.
Responding to this challenge will demand extraordinary action. To protect Ontario, Doug Ford
needs a strong, four-year mandate from the people that outlives and outlasts the Trump
administration. With this mandate, Ford and the Ontario PCs will protect Ontario workers by
investing more in infrastructure, including:
- Investing up to $15 billion more over three years to speed up key capital projects,
including widening the QEW between Burlington and St. Catharines. - Providing another $5 billion for the Building Ontario Fund, for a total of $8 billion, to
invest in housing, long-term care, energy, transportation and municipal infrastructure
projects. - Investing another $2 billion in the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program and the
Housing-Enabling Water Systems Fund to create new opportunities for workers in the
construction sector, support municipalities and help build more homes. - Increasing the Community Sport and Recreation Fund by $300 million to help build more
rinks, arenas, sports centres and other community infrastructure.
Doug Ford was joined by Mat Siscoe, Mayor of St. Catharines, Jim Diodati, Mayor of Niagara
Falls and Frank Campion, Mayor of Welland, who offered their full support and endorsement of
Ford and encouraged Niagara voters to send local Ontario PC candidates to Queen’s Park.
“Doug Ford has consistently made St. Catharines and our workers a priority,” said Mayor
Siscoe. “His commitment to ensure our local economy and our valued local workforce benefit
from provincial investments in critical infrastructure is vital to our future. In times of economic
uncertainty, the Premier has had our back and the backs of our workers and I look forward to
continuing to support and work with him to grow St. Catharines and the entire Niagara Region.”
“Premier Ford is not like other leaders who come and listen with no intent of actually making a
change,” said Mayor Diodati. “He is responsive, accessible, has listened to our needs in Niagara
and he follows through with action. His strategies outlined in “Destination Niagara” will help
ensure projects that are important to us, including the new South Niagara Hospital, the GO
Train, the University of Niagara Falls and the Niagara District Airport, are a success. We need a
person that understands and acts, and we need to keep the momentum going. Premier Ford
has the experience and know-how to take us through turbulent times. With the threat of tariffs,
the Premier’s solid business background and extensive American business experience put him
in a strong position to lead us on the path.”
“Doug Ford and the provincial government have consistently supported and invested in the
hardworking families and businesses of the Niagara Region,” said Mayor Campion. “Through
significant funding to keep our communities safe, create jobs and keep costs down for families,
and build much-needed infrastructure, this PC government has shown its commitment to our
needs. I am pleased to support Premier Ford. He will need a strong team to protect workers and
businesses in Niagara from the threat of U.S. tariffs. A vote to elect local Ontario PC candidates
to Queen’s Park will ensure we safeguard a bright future for our communities.”
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 a 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 over $1 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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