On May 15, 2025, Minister of Finance Peter Bethlenfalvy released the 2025 Ontario Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario. According to the Ministry, the 2025 Budget includes measures to protect Ontario workers, businesses and jobs in the face of U.S. tariffs and continued economic uncertainty, with a plan to build an economy that is more resilient and self-reliant.
Highlights of particular interest to General Contractors include:
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Investing $500 million in a new Critical Minerals Processing Fund, aimed at unlocking the potential of Ontario’s mineral sector by attracting investment in domestic critical mineral processing capacity. This will help ensure that minerals mined in Ontario are processed in Ontario, by Ontario workers.
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Tripling funding to $3 billion for the Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program (formerly the Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program), and expanding its eligibility beyond the electricity sector. The program will now include energy, pipelines, mining and critical minerals, resource development, and other sectors—supporting Indigenous equity partnerships in Ontario’s economic growth. Additionally, the government is investing $70 million over four years through the Indigenous Participation Fund (formerly the Aboriginal Participation Fund) to enhance the capacity of Indigenous communities and organizations in areas of high mineral activity to engage in regulatory processes related to exploration and mine development.
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Enhancing and expanding the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit, by temporarily increasing the credit rate from 10% to 15% for Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs). The proposed changes would also temporarily extend a 15% non-refundable version of the credit to non-CCPCs, including public corporations, that make eligible investments in Ontario. These changes are expected to provide an additional $1.3 billion in support over the next three years to help businesses lower costs and invest in productivity.
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Establishing the Protecting Ontario Account, a new fund of up to $5 billion designed to provide emergency liquidity relief for businesses affected by significant tariff-related disruptions. This initiative aims to safeguard jobs, support business transformation, and grow Ontario’s strategic economic sectors.
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Investing an additional $1 billion over three years in the Skills Development Fund, raising the total commitment to $2.5 billion. These funds will support organizations in enhancing training programs and upgrading or constructing new training centres to meet the growing demand for skilled trades across the province.
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Providing an additional $159.3 million over three years to support ongoing growth in various skilled trades programs, including expanding the In-Class Enhancement Fund to continue attracting people to careers in skilled trades.
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Investing an additional $50 million into the Better Jobs Ontario program in 2025-26 to support vocational and skills training that will enable more people to transition into in-demand jobs and support key labour market needs.
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Investing $16.5 million in 2025-26 to the Black Youth Action Plan to help Black youth develop career skills in high-demand sectors.
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Proposing to make the province’s gasoline and fuel tax cuts permanent, a move expected to save the average household approximately $115 annually.
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Permanently removing tolls from the provincially owned Highway 407 East, offering daily commuters an estimated $7,200 in annual savings.
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Advancing Ontario’s most ambitious capital plan in history, with over $200 billion in planned infrastructure investments over the next 10 years, including more than $33 billion in 2025–26. Highlights include:
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Nearly $30 billion for highway expansion and rehabilitation
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Approximately $61 billion for public transit
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Approximately $56 billion for health infrastructure
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Over $30 billion to build more schools and child care spaces
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Providing a six-month interest and penalty-free period for any Ontario businesses that choose to defer payment under select provincially administered taxes.
The Ontario General Contractors Association (OGCA) applauds the Government of Ontario for its ongoing commitment to infrastructure investment, road building, skills training, healthcare, and education. These strategic investments are vital to the province’s long-term prosperity. OGCA members stand ready to support this important work as we continue to Build Ontario together.
Should you have any questions, or require any further assistance, please contact Andrew Sampogna at andrew@ogca.ca.