TorontoOntario’s legislature returns today for what some experts say will be a short, but packed session, as economic storm clouds swirl over the province and questions linger about a multi-billion dollar skills fund.Joblessness numbers on the rise as Ford promises measures to help the economyShawn Jeffords · CBC News · Posted: Oct 20, 2025 4:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 2 hours agoDoug Ford’s Progressive Conservative majority is scheduled to sit for just 28 days in a shorter-than-normal session after delaying the resumption of the house by about a month. That comes after a similarly brief 23-day spring sitting after the snap election last winter. (Alex Lupul/CBC)Ontario’s legislature returns today for a short session some experts say will be packed with new bills to address the economic storm clouds swirling over the province, and as the government is dogged by questions about a controversial skills fund.Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative majority is scheduled to sit for just 28 days in a shorter-than-normal session after delaying the resumption of the house by about a month. That comes after a similarly brief 23-day spring sitting after the snap election last winter.Earlier this week, Ford promised to introduce new measures to address the economic uncertainty created by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs. “Our government will be ready to continue to deliver on our plan to protect Ontario and continue the work to make our province more competitive, more resilient and more self-reliant,” Ford said during a speech to a business audience on Tuesday. “Doing so will mean tough choices and hard work.”Unemployment rate expected to steadily riseThat pledge comes at a time when Ontario’s unemployment rate has been steadily increasing for months. The province’s Financial Accountability Office reported last month that it expects U.S. tariffs to increase the jobless rate to 7.8 per cent this year, and hover around eight per cent next year.The bulk of those job losses are expected to come from the manufacturing sector. In recent months, layoffs in Ontario’s auto sector have been announced at General Motors and Stellantis, affecting hundreds of workers. Premier Doug Ford has promised to introduce a number of new bills during the new session at Queen’s Park aimed at addressing the impact of U.S. tariffs. (Alex Lupul/CBC)The fiscal watchdog also estimates the U.S. tariff policy will slow economic growth and drive up Ontario’s deficits. The FAO said the Ford government will be in the red to the tune of $12 billion this year and next, dropping to $9 billion by 2029-2030.Conservative strategist Sam Duncan said the government has spent months preparing for the return of the house in order to maximize the short session. He expects a focus on the province’s economy and fighting Trump’s tariffs. But the speed at which the government wants to move could prove to be a challenge, he added.“I would expect a lot of legislation very quickly,” said Duncan, who is a vice president at Wellington Advocacy and was a former policy advisor in Ford’s office.“I would caution, there’s some risk there. And I think the government has to manage speed versus consultation. And they’ve, at times, gone too fast on things and had to pull back,” he added.Stiles vows to press on Skills Development Fund controversyNDP Leader Marit Stiles said she plans to use the short session to hold the government to account over its record on jobs and raise questions about the Skills Development Fund. Earlier this month, Ontario’s auditor general found Labour Minister David Piccini’s office has been heavily involved in selecting projects that get funded under a $2.5-billion skills training program and has doled out money to applicants ranked low against the program’s goals by bureaucrats, without documenting why.NDP Leader Marit Stiles says the official opposition will press the government on its plans for the economy and for answers on the Skills Development Fund controversy. (Alex Lupul/CBC)“This government has done nothing but use your tax dollars as a personal piggy bank, giving out handouts to well-connected friends,” Stiles said. “Meanwhile, we are staring down a rapidly ballooning deficit. Never has a government spent so much while delivering so little to Ontarians.”NDP strategist Erin Morrison said she expects “a short session with a tight agenda,” as the government races towards the Christmas break and another absence from the legislature. The Tories don’t want to answer questions about rising unemployment or about the Skills Development Fund, she said.“It is very obvious that Doug Ford, his record is catching up to him,” Morrison said. “He wants to sit for as few days as possible, face as few question periods as possible, and then get the heck out of Dodge.”She expects Stiles to come out swinging to both hold the government to account, but also strike a contrast with the leaderless Ontario Liberals as the viable alternative to Ford’s PCs. “She needs to be laser-focused on the things that Ontarians really care about, and she cannot let up,�” said Morrison, vice-president at Texture Communications.Ford also promised this week to push ahead with controversial reforms to some school boards in the province. Education Minister Paul Calandra says he’ll have a plan by the end of the year to possibly eliminate trustees from some school boards across the province. Ford said the move is about ensuring spending at the boards is focused on the classroom.“We’ll do whatever it takes to make sure school boards are accountable to their most fundamental responsibility, and that is student achievement and student successes,” he said.But former Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy said he’s skeptical about whether the government will make the controversial move. Calandra’s efforts to take over some school boards with appointed supervisors have already generated significant anger and pushback, he said.“I don’t know if they have the stomach for it,” said Milloy, who is now the director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College.“I think (the PCs) like to be popular more than other governments that actually go out and spend a little bit of political capital. So, they talk about a good game and then the minute that there’s controversy, they back down.”Bills coming to address trade war, cut red tape: FordFord said he intends to introduce legislation in the coming weeks to bolster “made-in-Ontario” products, cut red tape caused by government permits and has vowed to push forward on projects like development of the mineral-rich Ring of Fire. He’s also called on Prime Minister Mark Carney to cut business and personal income taxes to improve affordability. He’s vowed to do the same if the federal government moves first“We need to lower business taxes, we need to lower personal income tax,” Ford said Thursday. “That will make sure that our economy keeps thriving and prospering.”The province is expected to table its annual fall economic statement during the session, where such cuts could be included, but McMaster University political science professor Peter Graefe said he’s doubtful about Ford’s pledge. “I think the premier is personally conflicted,” Graefe said. “Doug Ford, the private citizen wants to pay as little tax as possible. Doug Ford, the premier, wants to build expensive highways, and needs the money to be coming in, and it’s going to be harder to bring that money in if the province is in recession.”ABOUT THE AUTHORShawn Jeffords is CBC Toronto’s Municipal Affairs Reporter, but is currently covering the Ontario Legislature. He has previously covered Queen’s Park for The Canadian Press. You can reach him by emailing shawn.jeffords@cbc.ca.
Ontario’s legislature back for a short session as economic storm clouds loom
