The first few years of Premier Doug Ford’s mandate were all about making Ontario “Open for Business”. That focus has shifted in recent years to the government’s new mantra of “Building Ontario”. Budget 2024 leaned into that frame, with housing and associated infrastructure as a major highlight. 

The Ford government contends that accelerating infrastructure spending is necessary to keep pace with the seismic growth the province has experienced in recent years. The budget styled these large expenditures as an investment in keeping more people in the province with desirable education, good quality jobs, and accessible healthcare, all with an eye to growing the population, and the tax base, down the line.

Affordability being top of mind for families, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy presented a budget that held the line on taxes, while calling on other levels of government to take similar actions.

With an election only two years away, the runway is shortening for Premier Ford to deliver on his big infrastructure spending plans. After all, construction takes time: something the Premier doesn’t have an abundance of if he wants to run on his “Building Ontario” track record in the next campaign.