Latest news with #ProtectingOntarioAccount
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Ontario Projects $14.6 Billion Deficit in Budget Focused on US Tariffs and Economic Growth
Ontario's 2025 budget includes support for businesses and workers hit by U.S. tariffs, new investments to grow key sectors, and a deficit three times larger than last year's projection. This year's budget, dubbed 'A Plan to Protect Ontario,' responds to economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs with a focus on building a stronger economy through nation-building projects and the province's 'most ambitious' capital plan yet, said Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy at his May 15 budget 'Tariffs have created an economic challenge right across Ontario, and it is our communities who are hurting the most, Madam Speaker–but our government is there for them too,' the minister 'Our government's plan to protect Ontario is designed to strengthen and support not only Ontario's economy, but Canada's economy as a whole by positioning us for long-term prosperity and growth,' he added. 'Madam Speaker, if not now, when?' The new budget Related Stories 3/5/2025 2/27/2025 The U.S. administration has imposed three rounds of tariffs on Canada, with exemptions for goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Ontario's deficit is expected to decline to $7.8 billion the following year, with a return to surplus in 2027–28, according to the province's projections. The budget The Opposition NDP said the new budget offers 'little hope and no reassurance' to people facing financial hardship, including those impacted by the tariffs. 'Instead of choosing a future where workers and their families can get ahead, the government missed the mark with a budget that is full of cuts and no new investments in the services that people rely on,' NDP finance critic Jessica Bell said in a May 15 'Over the past few months, the people of Ontario have been asking themselves: Why wasn't Ontario in a stronger position to take on these tariffs? Today's budget offers a clue.' Support for Businesses To assist businesses affected by U.S. tariffs, the province will establish a fund of up to $5 billion, called the 'Protecting Ontario Account,' aimed at providing immediate liquidity support to businesses that have exhausted their available funding. The province is also deferring certain provincial taxes until Oct. 1 for businesses impacted by the tariffs, providing around 80,000 employers with nearly $9 billion in cash flow to keep workers hired, officials said. The provincial government also plans to support manufacturing and processing businesses in Ontario by increasing the rate and expanding eligibility for a tax credit on investments in buildings, machinery, and equipment. The measure is expected to provide about $1.3 billion in cost relief over the next three years. The budget also provides $20 million to mobilize new training and support centres to offer transition supports for more laid-off workers, including those impacted by tariffs. The province is also launching a support program for grape growers and wineries to help increase the use of Ontario-grown grapes in wine production, according to officials. Running through the 2029–30 fiscal year, the program will offer up to $35 million per year to eligible wineries, with total available funding of $175 million. It is expected to double the proportion of Ontario grapes in blended wine on average. Economic Growth As part of its economic strategy, the province is allocating over $200 billion for capital projects over the next 10 years, including $33 billion in the current fiscal year. Planned investments include $30 billion for highway expansion and rehabilitation, nearly $61 billion for public transit, about $56 billion for health infrastructure, and more than $30 billion to build schools and child care spaces. The province also plans to invest $500 million to create a 'Critical Minerals Processing Fund,' which would attract investments in the processing of critical minerals while ensuring that minerals mined in Ontario are processed in the province. Premier Doug Ford has previously Ontario produced more than $10 billion worth of minerals in 2020, Increasing skilled worker participation in priority sectors is also among the province's goals, with plans to invest $1 billion over the next three years to support training organizations and build the necessary infrastructure across Ontario. This brings the total funding for this initiative to $2.5 billion. 'Whether it's our competitive advantage in critical minerals, energy, technology, talent and our workers, or any other area, we will need to bolster our economy by investing in our powerful and promising industries,' Bethlenfalvy said at the legislature on May 15. The province is also increasing loan guarantees for indigenous equity partnerships to $3 billion and supporting investments by indigenous communities in Ontario's growing sectors. It is also investing $70 million over four years to help indigenous people participate in mineral exploration and mine development, and $10 million over three years for scholarships for First Nations students pursuing careers in resource development. To support communities, the province plans to propose making its gas tax cuts permanent and eliminating tolls on the provincially owned Highway 407 East. Premier Doug Ford announced the measures
Toronto Star
16-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Doug Ford's government vows to ‘protect Ontario' from Donald Trump's tariffs with record $232.5B budget
Woe Canada, Ontario claims to stand on guard for thee. With the economy battered by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and unemployment rising, Premier Doug Ford's government has tabled a record $232.5-billion provincial budget to 'protect Ontario' and promote national unity. 'When all of Canada wins, Ontario wins,' Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said Thursday in a boosterish speech that noted 'it is amazing to witness the burst of patriotism across our province and our great country' in the face of Trump's tariffs. Wary of smouldering secessionist sentiment in Alberta, Bethlenfalvy stressed 'all levels of government need to work together to tackle the most pressing issues facing Ontario and Canada today … and deliver on nation-building projects such as reactors, seaports, railroads, pipelines and refineries.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW That means encouraging Prime Minister Mark Carney's new Liberal government to 'clear the maze of bureaucracy and red tape, barriers like Ottawa's Bill C-69,' to allow energy infrastructure to be built more quickly. With Trump's tariffs — real and threatened — triggering economic uncertainty, the recently re-elected Progressive Conservative government is launching a new $5-billion 'Protecting Ontario Account' to give immediate emergency cash supports to businesses affected by the slowdown. 'Tariffs have created an economic challenge across Ontario — and it is our communities who are hurting the most,' the treasurer said in a budget address that mentioned 'Canada' 33 times and 'Ontario' 70 times, but, unlike the April 15 throne speech, did not cite Trump by name. Indeed, unemployment in the province now sits at 7.8 per cent — above the national rate of 6.9 per cent — and a full percentage point higher than the 6.8 per cent this time last year. In 2023, it was five per cent. To tackle that, Bethlenfalvy is earmarking $20 million for new training and support centres 'providing immediate transition supports for laid-off workers, including those impacted by U.S. tariffs,' over and above the $2.5 billion promised for skills development and retraining programs over three years. With growth expected to sputter to just 0.8 per cent this year, the Tories are giving the economy a cash infusion with borrowed money, adding $5 billion to the Building Ontario Fund for affordable housing, long-term-care homes and energy projects, and tripling to $3 billion a fund to help Indigenous communities build infrastructure. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Touting a slew of initiatives to promote consumption of domestic goods from cars to cannabis, Bethlenfalvy decreed that the Friday before Canada Day will hitherto be known as 'Buy Ontarian, Buy Canadian' day to promote local products. It will be 'held annually on the last Friday in June to help consumers support local businesses and workers through programs such as Ontario Made, Ontario Wood, Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) for wine, and Foodland Ontario.' That dovetails with the push from Ford and Carney to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by July 1, which the premier and prime minister maintain could add $200 billion to the Canadian economy. Along with measures to boost sales of red wine, there was a lot of red ink in the budget, the first to be tabled since Ford's three-term Tories were re-elected Feb. 27. Last year's projected $9.8-billion deficit turned out to be a $6-billion shortfall. But the $4.6-billion deficit previously forecast for 2025-26 has ballooned to an anticipated $14.6 billion — a $10-billion increase due to spending on tariff-related measures. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW A month ago, Ford announced he would temporarily defer some provincial taxes through to Oct. 1, freeing up about $9 billion in cashflow for 80,000 tariff-hit employers to keep workers on the job. He also gave businesses an additional $2 billion in rebates through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Bethlenfalvy said the deficit would be $7.8 billion next year before the government goes back into the black with a $200 million surplus in 2027-28. 'We are seeing our debt-to-GDP ratio — which is an excellent way to measure an economy's fiscal health — near the lowest levels in almost 15 years, and now we can use that balance sheet to protect workers and businesses,' he told the legislature. Ontario's debt has jumped to a projected $489.8 billion this fiscal year — up $166.8 billion since Ford's Tories took office thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's a staggering 51.6 per cent increase from the $323-billion debt inherited from the previous Liberals of premier Kathleen Wynne seven years ago. Queen's Park will spend $16.2 billion on interest payments in 2025-26 — greater than the budgets of every single ministry except Health ($81.9 billion), Education ($42.7 billion) and Children, Community and Social Services ($20.4 billion) — climbing to $17 billion next year. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the Tories are spending more while Ontarians are getting less for their tax dollars. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'This is a Band-Aid budget, a missed opportunity to strengthen Ontario,' said Stiles. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said her party supports 'providing stimulus to ride through this critical time.' 'But in the long term, what's in it for the people who are still waiting 20 hours in an emergency room for care?' she said. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the fiscal plan 'utterly fails' on improving housing affordability. 'We will not tariff-proof Ontario if people can't afford to live in this province. We are not helping the people who need the help, the most low- and middle-income families,' said Schreiner. As first disclosed by the Star on Wednesday, Bethlenfalvy's 232-page spending plan says that beyond the bike lanes the province wants removed from Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, bikeways will be taken off of Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road in order to have more car lanes. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW 'Ontario is reconfiguring some of Toronto's most congested streets,' the budget stated in a section that also included Ford's controversial scheme to tunnel under Highway 401 from Mississauga to Scarborough in order reduce gridlock. The spending blueprint reiterated the Tories' commitment to expanding TTC and GO Transit services and boasts that 'major construction … is now complete' for the Eglinton Crosstown and the Finch West LRTs, but did not specify opening dates for those delayed projects. Construction began on the 19-kilometre Crosstown LRT in 2012 under former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. The Star has reported it could finally open in September. Finally, buried on the last page of the budget, there will be a new law that will allow former cabinet ministers of all political stripes to call themselves 'Honorary Members of the Executive Council.' That means they can use the honorific 'the honourable,' bringing Ontario in line with titles enjoyed by ex-ministers in Ottawa and other provinces. With files from Rob Ferguson Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. 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Hamilton Spectator
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Doug Ford's government vows to ‘protect Ontario' from Donald Trump's tariffs with record $232.5B budget
Woe Canada, Ontario claims to stand on guard for thee. With the economy battered by U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war and unemployment rising, Premier Doug Ford's government has tabled a record $232.5-billion provincial budget to 'protect Ontario' and promote national unity. 'When all of Canada wins, Ontario wins,' Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said Thursday in a boosterish speech that noted 'it is amazing to witness the burst of patriotism across our province and our great country' in the face of Trump's tariffs. Wary of smouldering secessionist sentiment in Alberta, Bethlenfalvy stressed 'all levels of government need to work together to tackle the most pressing issues facing Ontario and Canada today … and deliver on nation-building projects such as reactors, seaports, railroads, pipelines and refineries.' That means encouraging Prime Minister Mark Carney's new Liberal government to 'clear the maze of bureaucracy and red tape, barriers like Ottawa's Bill C-69,' to allow energy infrastructure to be built more quickly. With Trump's tariffs — real and threatened — triggering economic uncertainty, the recently re-elected Progressive Conservative government is launching a new $5-billion 'Protecting Ontario Account' to give immediate emergency cash supports to businesses affected by the slowdown. 'Tariffs have created an economic challenge across Ontario — and it is our communities who are hurting the most,' the treasurer said in a budget address that mentioned 'Canada' 33 times and 'Ontario' 70 times, but, unlike the April 15 throne speech , did not cite Trump by name. Indeed, unemployment in the province now sits at 7.8 per cent — above the national rate of 6.9 per cent — and a full percentage point higher than the 6.8 per cent this time last year. In 2023, it was five per cent. To tackle that, Bethlenfalvy is earmarking $20 million for new training and support centres 'providing immediate transition supports for laid-off workers, including those impacted by U.S. tariffs,' over and above the $2.5 billion promised for skills development and retraining programs over three years. With growth expected to sputter to just 0.8 per cent this year, the Tories are giving the economy a cash infusion with borrowed money, adding $5 billion to the Building Ontario Fund for affordable housing, long-term-care homes and energy projects, and tripling to $3 billion a fund to help Indigenous communities build infrastructure. Touting a slew of initiatives to promote consumption of domestic goods from cars to cannabis, Bethlenfalvy decreed that the Friday before Canada Day will hitherto be known as 'Buy Ontarian, Buy Canadian' day to promote local products. It will be 'held annually on the last Friday in June to help consumers support local businesses and workers through programs such as Ontario Made, Ontario Wood, Vintners Quality Alliance (VQA) for wine, and Foodland Ontario.' That dovetails with the push from Ford and Carney to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers by July 1, which the premier and prime minister maintain could add $200 billion to the Canadian economy. Along with measures to boost sales of red wine, there was a lot of red ink in the budget, the first to be tabled since Ford's three-term Tories were re-elected Feb. 27. Last year's projected $9.8-billion deficit turned out to be a $6-billion shortfall. But the $4.6-billion deficit previously forecast for 2025-26 has ballooned to an anticipated $14.6 billion — a $10-billion increase due to spending on tariff-related measures. A month ago, Ford announced he would temporarily defer some provincial taxes through to Oct. 1, freeing up about $9 billion in cashflow for 80,000 tariff-hit employers to keep workers on the job. He also gave businesses an additional $2 billion in rebates through the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Bethlenfalvy said the deficit would be $7.8 billion next year before the government goes back into the black with a $200 million surplus in 2027-28. 'We are seeing our debt-to-GDP ratio — which is an excellent way to measure an economy's fiscal health — near the lowest levels in almost 15 years, and now we can use that balance sheet to protect workers and businesses,' he told the legislature. Ontario's debt has jumped to a projected $489.8 billion this fiscal year — up $166.8 billion since Ford's Tories took office thanks in part to the COVID-19 pandemic. That's a staggering 51.6 per cent increase from the $323-billion debt inherited from the previous Liberals of premier Kathleen Wynne seven years ago. Queen's Park will spend $16.2 billion on interest payments in 2025-26 — greater than the budgets of every single ministry except Health ($81.9 billion), Education ($42.7 billion) and Children, Community and Social Services ($20.4 billion) — climbing to $17 billion next year. NDP Leader Marit Stiles said the Tories are spending more while Ontarians are getting less for their tax dollars. 'This is a Band-Aid budget, a missed opportunity to strengthen Ontario,' said Stiles. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said her party supports 'providing stimulus to ride through this critical time.' 'But in the long term, what's in it for the people who are still waiting 20 hours in an emergency room for care?' she said. Green Leader Mike Schreiner said the fiscal plan 'utterly fails' on improving housing affordability. 'We will not tariff-proof Ontario if people can't afford to live in this province. We are not helping the people who need the help, the most low- and middle-income families,' said Schreiner. As first disclosed by the Star on Wednesday, Bethlenfalvy's 232-page spending plan says that beyond the bike lanes the province wants removed from Bloor Street, Yonge Street and University Avenue, bikeways will be taken off of Queen's Park Crescent and Avenue Road in order to have more car lanes. 'Ontario is reconfiguring some of Toronto's most congested streets,' the budget stated in a section that also included Ford's controversial scheme to tunnel under Highway 401 from Mississauga to Scarborough in order reduce gridlock. The spending blueprint reiterated the Tories' commitment to expanding TTC and GO Transit services and boasts that 'major construction … is now complete' for the Eglinton Crosstown and the Finch West LRTs, but did not specify opening dates for those delayed projects. Construction began on the 19-kilometre Crosstown LRT in 2012 under former Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty. The Star has reported it could finally open in September . Finally, buried on the last page of the budget, there will be a new law that will allow former cabinet ministers of all political stripes to call themselves 'Honorary Members of the Executive Council.' That means they can use the honorific 'the honourable,' bringing Ontario in line with titles enjoyed by ex-ministers in Ottawa and other provinces. With files from Rob Ferguson
Toronto Star
15-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Ten things you should know about Ontario's budget
From choppers for cops to new teacher spots, the record-breaking $232.5 billion Ontario budget unveiled Thursday also features a number of programs to help tariff-battered businesses and workers. As a point of national pride, the province is also introducing a new 'buy' day to promote Ontario and Canadian-made products. Here are the highlights: A $5 billion 'Protecting Ontario Account' to help businesses withstand the impact from U.S tariffs. Two new H-135 helicopters at a cost of $57 million — one each for the Niagara Regional Police Service and the Windsor Police Service — for increased border patrols and security. Last year, the province spent $135 million for five helicopters for the Toronto-area and Ottawa, bringing the total number of 'Joint Air Support Unit' choppers to seven. A $1 billion training and skilled trades investment for programs run by unions or other businesses and associations, plus a new $20 million fund for retraining and supports for laid off workers, including those who lose their jobs because of U.S. tariffs. An additional $40 million 'Trade Impacted Communities Program' is intended for struggling municipalities. The last Friday in June will be designated a 'Buy Ontario, Buy Canadian Day' — just before Canada Day on July 1 — to encourage purchases from local businesses and workers as part of a broader push by Premier Doug Ford to boost interprovincial trade. A $175 million Ontario Grape Support Program to help fruit farmers and wineries to double the percentage of Ontario grapes in blended wine. Up to $35 million will be available each year over five years. Weed grown and processed in the province will be marked with a new 'Ontario Grown,' intended for cannabis products with at least 75 per cent Ontario content. An additional $92 million — for a total of more than $180 million — to increase EV (electric vehicle) infrastructure, including more public charging stations with a focus on underserved areas, as part of Ontario's EV ChargeOn program. Amid a province-wide teacher shortage, $55.8 million over two years to train 2,600 new educators. Victim Services Toronto Reclaim Project, which works with banks and other agencies to help survivors of human trafficking erase fraudulent and coerced debt, will receive $1 million over three years. In 2023, the province amended the Consumer Reporting Act to outlaw collection of any such debt following a successful application. Such debt can include loans, cellphone purchases and hotel room bills. The final item in the 232-page budget is a new bill that will allow cabinet ministers to continue to use and be referred to as 'Honourable,' even after they leave office. Currently, in Canada, provincial ministers typically use the term while in office, while prime ministers, senators and chief justices can be referred to as 'Right Honourable' for life. Politics Headlines Newsletter Get the latest news and unmatched insights in your inbox every evening Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. Please enter a valid email address. Sign Up Yes, I'd also like to receive customized content suggestions and promotional messages from the Star. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Politics Headlines Newsletter You're signed up! You'll start getting Politics Headlines in your inbox soon. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page.
CTV News
15-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Ontario deficit grows $10B as province tables $232.5B budget aimed at protecting economy from tariffs
Ontario's deficit is expected to balloon by another $10 billion in 2025-26 as the Ford government spends billions of dollars on programs to support workers and stimulate the economy in the face of U.S. tariff threats. 'Ontario and all of Canada are at a precipice, and we need to take serious steps to make sure we do not find ourselves anywhere near the bottom,' Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said Thursday as he presented Ontario's latest budget, the first since the Ford government won re-election in March. The government says it is setting aside $5 billion for the Protecting Ontario Account – a fund promised during the campaign to provide support to businesses facing 'significant tariff-related business disruptions.' The province will also bolster the Skills Development Fund by another $1 billion over the next three years. There's also $500 million for a new Critical Minerals Fund the government says will 'unleash the potential' of the mineral sector. Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy called the tariffs imposed by the United States 'a wake-up call for Canadians' in prepared remarks but said this is a time for growth rather than fear. The government says it plans to spend about $200 billion over the next 10 years on infrastructure. That will include $33 billion in 2025-26. Over the next decade., the plan includes $30 billion for highway construction and rehabilitation; $61 billion for public transit, such as the GO 2.0 expansion and subway projects; $56 billion for health care infrastructure; and around $30 billion to build more schools and child care spaces. Many of the measures included in the budget were previously unveiled. As announced earlier this week by Premier Doug Ford, the budget keeps an election promise to permanently lower the gas tax and to eliminate tolls on a provisionally owned portion of Hwy. 407 East, between Clarington and Pickering. Last week Bethlenfalvy announced an expansion of the Ontario Made Manufacturing Investment Tax Credit – a tax credit meant to bolster Ontario's manufacturing sector. That will provide $1.3 billion over three years to help the sector. A six-month deferral of some taxes for businesses, worth $9 billion, was announced in April and is also included in the budget. Impact of tariffs still uncertain The new spending means the government is now projecting a deficit of $14.6 billion in 2025-26 -- $10 billion more than last year's budget predicted and $13 billion more than the fall economic statement projected just a few months ago. A deficit of $7.8 billion is expected in 2026-27 instead of the $500 million surplus that had been projected previously. The government still believes that it can balance the books by 2027-28, predicting a small surplus of $200 million in that fiscal year. Fiscal outlook Ontario's 2024-25 deficit is now projected to be $6 billion -- $3.8 billion lower than the 2024 budget predicted. The government says that's due to higher-than-expected tax revenue. While there have been fears that tariffs could send Ontario's economy into a recession, the budget actually predicts mild growth. Ontario's real GDP grew by 1.5 per cent in 2024, but is expected to rise by just 0.8 per cent in 2025 and one per cent in 2026 because of tariffs. GDP is forecast to grow by 1.9 per cent in 2027-28. However, ministry staff stress that the economic environment remains highly unpredictable. They say that the impact of tariff actions has not yet been fully observed in recent economic data, but forward-looking economic indicators are down significantly, close to levels not seen since the pandemic. No major increases for health, education spending The government plans to spend $91.1 billion on health care. That's up from $89.3 billion from last year, but the increase is still less than inflation. While health care spending growth looks somewhat flat, the government says that's because of higher costs in previous years when the province experienced an influx of newcomers and there were added pressures on OHIP. Spending in 2025-26 will include $235 million to create and expand 305 additional primary care teams as part of a plan announced in January to connect more Ontarians with primary care. The latest budget also includes a fertility tax credit that would cover 25 per cent of fertility treatments up to $20,000 per year, for a maximum of $5,000. Education spending is up at $1 billion, compared to $38. 4 billion last year, but it appears that it will remain relatively flat for the next two years. The government says that's because of higher capital spending in previous years. Wher your money goes Opposition slams budget as 'band-aid' Opposition Leader Marit Stiles slammed the government's latest budget at Queen's Park Thursday, calling it a missed opportunity to strengthen the province. 'This is a band-aid budget, a missed opportunity to strengthen Ontario,' Stiles said. She said she was 'shocked' there was plenty of discussion around alcohol prices, but little attention to child care or post-secondary spending. When it comes to housing, MPP Jessica Bell said the government 'quite frankly have thrown in the towel on housing in this budget.' When it comes to housing, the government is lowering its projections, expecting just 71,800 housing starts for 2025. That's about 20,000 fewer housing starts than the 92,300 predicted in the 2024 budget. The forecast has also been lowered by about 20,000 homes for 2026 and about 13,000 homes for 2027. However the government notes that those are macro-economic projections which may differ from the ministry's real-time numbers, which could potentially be higher. Ontario has set a goal of building at least 1.5 million homes by 2031 and needs to build more than 100,000 homes each year to stay on track. Bethlenfalvy said Thursday they are still committed to that goal. The budget includes no new details on Premier Doug Ford's proposal to build a vehicle and transit tunnel under Highway 401 to relieve gridlock, simply saying that feasibility work will be carried out. Other highlights $75.5M extra beyond annual funding to homelessness prevention programs, such as boosting shelter capacity and ready-to-build affordable housing projects $57M on helicopters for police in Niagara and Windsor $15.5M more over three years to increase production of medical isotopes to 24 hours a day The province will create an 'Ontario Grown' badge this summer for cannabis products with at least 75 per cent Ontario content Cannabis shop windows will no longer have to be blacked out to 'increase comfort, security, and safety' of customers and employees, though products cannot be visible from the outside The province will be making various changes to alcohol pricing and taxes, with revenue from the LCBO and the beer, wine and spirits tax expected to drop significantly in 2025-26. -With files from CTV Toronto's Siobhan Morris
