A list of promises made on the Ontario election campaign trail since March
May 6: Expand GO train service to Bowmanville.April 28: Spend $158.8 billion over 10 years for highways, transit and hospitals, with $20 billion promised this year alone. Highway projects include Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass, widening Highway 401 east from Pickering, and improving the QEW Skyway. Hospital investments include $1 billion each for projects at the Scarborough Health Network and Unity Health.
Invest an additional $114.4 million over three years in a Skilled Trades Strategy. Provide an additional $268.5 over three years to Employment Ontario.Article content Expand Peel Memorial Hospital to include a 24-hour emergency department, build a new full-service hospital and establish a dedicated cancer centre.
Hire 10,000 personal support workers, give them a raise. Hire 30,000 nurses, expedite recognition of nursing credentials of 15,000 internationally trained nurses. Scrap Bill 124, which limits public sector compensation increases. Hire 20,000 teachers and education workers. Cap class sizes for Grades 4 through 8 at 24 students. Cap full-day kindergarten classes at 26 students. Cancel EQAO standardized testing. Scrap the requirement for two online courses for high school graduation.Article content
April 22: Plant one billion trees by 2030. Establish a Youth Climate Corps. Mandate all newly built public, residential and commercial buildings to have net-zero emissions by 2030. Have 100 per cent of vehicle sales be zero emission by 2035. Introduce a new cap-and-trade program. Electrify all municipal transit by 2040. Give households $600 to install electric vehicle charging stations.
May 6: Reintroduce an optional Grade 13. Hire 1,000 more mental health professionals for students and staff. Hire 5,000 more special education workers. Expand the Student Nutrition Program. End EQAO tests and replace them with a new assessment strategy.May 4: Cancel Highway 413 and use $10 billion in planned savings to build 200 more schools and repair another 4,500.
April 26: End for-profit long-term care by 2028. Build 30,000 new long-term care beds and redevelop 28,000 existing spaces. Introduce a home care guarantee and ensure 400,000 more seniors have access in the next four years. Boost base funding for home care by $2 billion by 2026. Build 15,000 more assisted living homes over 10 years. Expand and make permanent the Seniors’ Home Safety Tax Credit. Make the Ontario Caregiver Tax Credit refundable, tax-free and paid throughout the year.
April 19: Ban the sale, possession, transport and storage of handguns. Participate in a federal buyback program. Work with the federal government to stop gun smuggling across the border.Article content April 28: Double Ontario Disability Support Program rates. Ensure the rapid implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and update its accessibility standards. Increase high-quality home care options for people with disabilities.