Ontario’s Minister of Finance has introduced the 2025 Ontario Budget, A Plan to Protect Ontario. The 2025 Budget was focused on keeping Ontario’s economy and communities strong in the face of economic uncertainty, larger deficits, and lower projected housing starts.
“MARCO municipalities strongly support this government’s mission to protect Ontario, and we are happy this budget includes investments in critical infrastructure to enable housing and the jobs and industries impacted by tariffs,” said MARCO Chair Karen Redman, Chair of Waterloo Region.
“Ontarians are counting on us to defend their jobs, communities, and quality of life through economic turbulence. That’s why we’ll continue to propose strategic investments in municipal infrastructure and social housing that would boost local jobs and key industries, and solutions that would allow more tax dollars invested in priorities like health care and policing.
“MARCO municipalities stand ready to partner with this government to protect Ontario and build the communities we love.”
Responding to Economic Uncertainty
- We appreciate the Ontario government’s focus on protecting communities from US tariffs, which aligns with MARCO’s call to defend Ontario’s communities and economy through economic uncertainty. The $40 million Trade-Impacted Communities Program is a welcome initiative to help hardest-hit communities.
- MARCO municipalities stand ready to partner with the province to support businesses and workers in our communities.
Infrastructure for Homes and Jobs
- The budget’s commitment to infrastructure investment demonstrates a shared vision with MARCO municipalities for protecting Ontario by building Ontario. We are encouraged by the additional $400 million for housing-enabling infrastructure through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (MHIP) and the Housing Enabling Water Systems Fund (HEWSF) programs.
- We look forward to working with the province to advance critical municipal infrastructure projects that will unlock housing, protect jobs, and boost the economy.
- We welcome constructive conversations to solve the housing crisis and look forward to working with government on solutions to help build housing faster and make housing more affordable.
Solving Homelessness Upstream
- As service managers, we welcomed the province’s commitment of $75.5 million to support municipalities in addressing encampments and homelessness, including funding for affordable housing and expanded shelter capacity. This funding is a drop in the right bucket, and we look forward to discussing what could be accomplished with expanded funding.
- We look forward to collaborating with the province to explore upstream solutions that will save money in emergency rooms, hospitals, and law enforcement.
Unleashing Municipal Finances
- This budget creates a foundation for further dialogue on sustainable municipal financing.
- MARCO looks forward to exploring solutions that would unleash property tax dollars so municipalities can invest more in growing priorities like public safety.
Working Together
- MARCO municipalities are key partners in implementing the province’s priorities—as engines of economic growth, providers of essential services, and representing 75% of Ontario’s population.
- We stand ready to work together to protect Ontario and build the communities we love.