Legislative Summary
Ontario Legislature returned with a new mandate, passing a flurry of controversial bills
April 15, 2025 marked the beginning of Ontario’s 44th legislative session. During the throne speech, the province outlined its priorities for the coming years, focusing primarily on economic policy in response to the ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
In this document, please find ONN’s analysis of legislation that have cross-cutting impact on Ontario’s nonprofit sector and/or connect to ONN’s public policy agenda. Nonprofits are encouraged to use this resource in their advocacy work and communications with government.
Public consultations
Public consultations are an opportunity for organizations to weigh in on government decisions. Submissions are a way to document dissent, concerns, queries, and provide alternative solutions. They can happen at any phase of the decision making process (identify priorities and issues, give feedback on draft policies and plans, and help develop a solution to a problem).
They can happen on the Government of Ontario website, in person through town halls, expert advisory groups, limited stakeholder engagements, or through the Regulatory Registry, Long-term Care Licensing Registry, or Environmental Registry.
Sign-up to receive alerts and/or subscribe to ONN’s e-bulletin to stay up to date on sector relevant consultations.
Fall economic statements
Ontario’s Fall Economic Statement: The plan to protect Ontario is unclear
On November 6, Ontario’s Finance Minister delivered the province’s fall economic statement – an outlook based on the past six months of the fiscal year. The province is projecting a deficit of $1.1 billion, nearly $5 billion lower than the outlook published in the 2025 budget. While hot on the heels of the federal budget, the province notes its outlook does not consider the federal budget.
The statement restates many of its “Plans to Protect Ontario” already announced in Budget 2025 and over the summer: investments for manufacturing, steel, construction, and energy as the traditional pathways to bolstering and protecting Ontario’s economy during uncertain economic times. The nonprofit sector, despite being a key player in supporting and bolstering Ontario’s economy, seems to remain a low priority in the economic statement. Investments into the nonprofit sector, similar to those recently seen for the energy and manufacturing industry, would also function to protect jobs and Ontario’s economy.
The fall economic statement tees up Budget 2026 consultations in the coming weeks. ONN’s budget submission will reinforce key messages and recommendations from its 2025 State of the Sector report. We’ll be sharing our submission in early December.
Survey report recommendations:
- Create a home in government for nonprofits and charities to protect Ontario:
- Appoint an Associate Minister within the Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, supported by a Deputy or Assistant Deputy Minister in an Office representing nonprofits, charities, and social innovation.
- Ensure nonprofits are part and parcel of plans to Protect Ontario:
- Over $40 billion in new investments, loans, and other financial supports will be made available to mitigate impacts of the U.S. tariffs on communities which nonprofits must have targeted access to.
- Future-proof Ontarians’ social infrastructure:
- Deliver ministry budgets that reflect the true cost of delivering services and programs, keep pace with inflation, wages, demand, population shifts, and respond to emerging needs.
Dive into sector reactions
Pre-Budget consultations
A valuable opportunity
Pre-budget consultations are a valuable opportunity for nonprofits to amplify key issues and propose solutions for government action that impact their organizations, the broader sector, and the communities they serve. Particularly after an election cycle, it is important for the sector to use pre-budget consultations as a way to influence the new government at the outset of their mandate.
The best budget submissions focus on clear and specific policy changes and commitments the government can make within a budget cycle.
Many ways to participate
- Participate in the budget process: You can participate in nonpartisan advocacy. While some advocacy requires tracking and reporting, participating in public processes like budget consultations does not.
- Fill out the budget survey or send a written submission to the Ministry of Finance.
- Email to inquire if you can join local consultations held by the Minister of Finance/Parliamentary Assistant.
- Apply to testify at a pre-budget hearing through the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. There is a deadline to apply to testify.
- Amplify sector priorities and key messages in your submission or oral presentation and conversations with local MPPs. Legislative breaks are a great time to meet with your local MPPs as they are in their constituent offices rather than Queens Park.
- Write your own submission or oral presentation remarks.
- Endorse a network’s submission.
- Copy and paste from submissions from organizations you work alongside.
- Highlight your advocacy: Bring attention to your pre-budget submission by sharing it with your community through social media, your newsletter, and at online or in-person events.
- Share your submission with us so we can amplify it and use in our advocacy work! Email your submission to admin@theonn.ca.
Resources
- Pre-budget submission template
- When are budget submissions worth your time?: Part one, Part two, Part 3
- What are budget consultations good for anyway?
- Understanding Ontario’s budget cycle
- Info-Go Provincial Employee and organization directory
- Guide on key messages about Ontario’s nonprofit sector
Deadlines for 2026 budget
The Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will meet to conduct 2026 Pre-Budget Consultations. Hearings will be held in: Toronto, Peterborough, Brockville, Ottawa, Pembroke, Kitchener, London, Niagara Falls, Kapuskasing, Thunder Bay and Sudbury. The deadlines to apply to appear at hearings are fast approaching, with Toronto and Peterborough deadline on November 24.
Budget consultations are being accepted until January 30, 2026. For more information, contact: MOFconsultations@ontario.ca.
Budget Analysis
The budget is generally tabled in the legislature in March, in advance of the fiscal year which begins on April 1.
Elections
The votes are in
The 2025 Ontario snap election was held on February 27, 2025. Premier Doug Ford was re-elected for a third majority government, and the NDP retained their status as the official Opposition while the Liberal Party gained official party status in the legislature.
During the snap election, many nonprofits showed up to call attention to the issues impacting them and the communities they serve and to engage communities to get out and vote. ONN put together many resources for nonprofits, analyzed policy platforms, and documented sector advocacy efforts.
Post election advocacy
There are a wide array of opportunities to continue to advocate for change and build a stronger network for collective action:
- Write to your newly elected officials, including new cabinet ministers and parliamentary assistants, congratulate them for being elected and express your interest in working with them in their critical roles. This is a great opportunity to once again introduce your organization and your public policy priorities. Ask for an opportunity to meet with the newly elected officials at their earliest convenience.
- Check out the throne speech to better understand the new mandate. Reviewing the existing PC party platform is also a good start.
- Take a moment to reflect on what might be top of mind for your organization and community with this new government. What social, political, and economic trends might be key to think about?
