Seven years after Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives took power in Ontario, the province is worse off in nearly every measurable way. From gutted education and healthcare to a worsening housing crisis and environmental destruction, Ford’s government has prioritized corporate profits and privatization over public well-being. The damage is undeniable—and so are the consequences.
How Ontario Elects a Premier: Your Vote Matters in Your Riding
Unlike in U.S. presidential elections, Ontarians do not vote directly for a premier. Instead, they vote for their local Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) in their riding. The political party that wins the most ridings forms the government, and their leader becomes premier.
For example, in the 2022 provincial election, Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party won 83 out of 124 seats, securing him a second term as premier. However, because Ontario has a first-past-the-post system, Ford’s PCs won a majority government with only 40.8% of the popular vote, meaning nearly 60% of voters supported other parties (Elections Ontario).
This system makes every riding critical—voting in your local riding directly determines which party governs Ontario. If Ontarians want change, they must vote for the candidate in their riding who best represents their values.
Education: Defunding the Future
One of Ford’s earliest attacks on Ontario’s future was on education. His government cut education funding, forcing larger class sizes and fewer resources for students. Indigenous education programs were slashed by 63% in the Lambton Kent School District (Ontario NDP).
Ford also tried to roll back the sexual education curriculum to its outdated 1998 version, ignoring modern realities like LGBTQ2S+ inclusion and online safety (Wikipedia).
The trend toward privatization has continued, with policies that push students toward for-profit education models, weakening public schools (Perspectives Journal).
Healthcare: Underspending and Privatization at a Cost
Ontario’s healthcare system was in crisis before the pandemic, but Ford’s government made it worse. Instead of investing in hospitals and frontline workers, the province underspent its healthcare budget by $466 million in 2019-2020 and $3.5 billion in 2020-2021 (Ontario Liberals).
Ford has also aggressively pushed privatization, shifting surgeries and primary care to for-profit clinics while using taxpayer dollars to fund them. This creates a two-tier system where quality healthcare depends on a patient’s ability to pay (Ontario Health Coalition).
Housing: The Affordability Crisis Deepens
Ontario’s housing crisis has only worsened under Ford’s leadership. His government scrapped rent controls on new units, allowing landlords to raise rents unchecked. Homelessness has risen, while affordable housing has become even scarcer (People’s Voice).
Ford’s response? Handing public land and Greenbelt space over to developers. Bill 23, the More Homes Built Faster Act, gutted environmental protections and gave developers more power over municipal planning (Wikipedia). The backlash was so intense that Ford was forced to reverse his decision, but only after a scandal revealed his government’s actions benefited wealthy developers (The Narwhal).
The Environment: Ford’s War on Nature
Beyond the Greenbelt scandal, Ford’s government has continuously weakened environmental protections. He has championed Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, which will destroy vital ecosystems (The Narwhal).
Ontario’s Auditor General has also accused his government of ignoring the province’s Environmental Bill of Rights, making regulatory changes without public input (The Pointer).
In energy policy, Ford has backtracked on renewable energy commitments. His government canceled over 750 clean energy projects while pushing natural gas, leading to increased emissions (The Narwhal).
Indigenous Rights: Broken Promises and Continued Neglect
Ford’s government has consistently failed Indigenous communities. In 2019, the government cut the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs’ budget by 50% (Wikipedia).
Meanwhile, for-profit child welfare group homes have placed Indigenous youth in dangerous conditions, but the government has done little to address these abuses (Global News).
A Government That Works for the Few, Not the Many
From defunding education and privatizing healthcare to failing to address the housing crisis and rolling back environmental protections, Doug Ford’s government has repeatedly put corporate profits over people’s needs. The consequences of these policies are real, and Ontarians will continue to feel the damage for years to come.
If Ontarians want change, they must vote in their riding for a candidate who will put public interest first. Because in Ontario, the path to a new premier starts at the local level.
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