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With the Ontario election set for Feb. 27, 2025, political parties have been rolling out their promises. Here’s a breakdown of key commitments from the Progressive Conservatives, NDP, Liberals, and Greens that impact employers and HR professionals.
Note: Information was compiled by the Canadian Press but edited by HR News Canada.
Progressive Conservatives
- Feb. 3 on tariffs: Pledge to spend $10 billion toward support for employers, including a six-month deferral of provincially administered taxes on businesses, $3 billion in payroll tax and premium relief, $600 million to attract investments, and $300 million to expand an Ontario manufacturing tax credit.
- Jan. 30 on tariffs: Invest $1 billion in a skills development fund for autoworkers to transition to different trades and another $100 million for an employment fund to help workers vulnerable to trade disputes transition to “in-demand” jobs.
NDP
- Feb. 7 on health care: Ensure access to a family doctor for every Ontarian, reduce administrative burdens on doctors, introduce more family health teams, shorten specialist wait times, and increase internationally trained doctor recruitment at a total cost of $4 billion.
- Feb. 6 on housing: End a loophole that exempts rental units built after 2018 from rent control, crack down on renovictions and demovictions, allow fourplexes as of right in all neighborhoods, and allow mid-rise apartments along transit corridors. These measures aim to improve housing stability for employees.
- Feb. 3 on tariffs: Implement a federal-provincial income support program, direct agencies to procure locally, and create new supply chains for trade-exposed industries.
Liberals
- Feb. 12 on health care: Address wage disparities by paying nurses and personal support workers more and ensuring wage parity across long-term care, home care, and hospital settings.
- Feb. 11 on education: Create 40,000 co-op positions, paid internships, and apprenticeships through tax credits to companies that hire young people.
- Feb. 3 on tariffs: Offer a $150,000 bonus to Canadian doctors and nurses working in the U.S. if they return to Ontario, establish a “fight tariff fund” to provide lower interest rates for businesses, and eliminate interprovincial trade barriers.
Greens
- Feb. 19 on small business: Increase the Employer Health Tax exemption to $1.5 million for small businesses. Amend zoning rules to allow small businesses such as corner stores and cafes to open in residential neighborhoods. Implement a Commercial Renter’s Bill of Rights and develop an affordable commercial insurance program for small businesses.
- Feb. 12 on affordability: Increase the minimum wage to $20 per hour and index it to inflation. Implement 10 paid sick days for all workers. Classify gig workers as employees. Phase in a basic income.
- Feb. 12 on housing: Restrict short-term rentals to primary residences, reinstate rent controls on all units, place a moratorium on above-guideline rent increases, and offer zero-interest loans of $25,000 for homeowners to add affordable rental units.
With workforce issues such as affordability, employment laws, and economic resilience at the forefront, these promises could have a significant impact on employers and HR professionals across the province.
