With Sir John A. Macdonald finally set to be unboxed in Ontario, better must be expected of Ford’s ‘Conservatives’ going forward

By Alexander Brown, Director, National Citizens Coalition (read in the Western Standard)

After five long and shameful years, a three-term Conservative majority is finally unboxing Sir John A. Macdonald on the front lawn of Queen's Park. Everyday Ontarians helped pressure them into doing the right thing -- some were even arrested for it – but now, better must be expected of a Ford government drawing frequent unflattering comparisons to the legacies of Dalton McGuinty, Kathleen Wynne, and the federal Liberals.

Ontario, once Canada’s economic powerhouse, has sadly become the "sick man" of North America, burdened by the world’s largest sub-sovereign debt, economic stagnation, and an unsustainable reliance on temporary foreign labour and international students.

After years of mismanagement and disappointment, enough should be enough. The recent re-launch of the National Citizens Coalition’s Ontarians for Responsible Government campaign, aimed at building on the momentum from this long-overdue unboxing, comes bearing additional demands of the Ford government and the ‘Progressive Conservatives’ who have left much to be desired.

The NCC’s common-sense, conservative demands for the Ford government includes:

Remain Steadfast in Defending Canada's Heritage: After the reinstallation of the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald in a place of prominence, the Ontario Legislature, the Ontario PC Party, and the Premier's Office must better honour Canada’s history, reject its erasure, and no longer bow to every mob.

Tackle the World’s Largest Sub-Sovereign Debt: Ontario’s net debt is projected to reach $489.8 billion in 2024–25, making it the world’s largest sub-sovereign debtor, as noted by Moody’s Investors Service and the Fraser Institute. With a debt-to-GDP ratio of 39.2% in 2024–25, and interest payments exceeding $12.9 billion annually, this fiscal irresponsibility burdens taxpayers and diverts funds from critical services like healthcare and education, betraying conservative principles of fiscal restraint.

It's time to implement a concrete plan to reduce Ontario’s $489.8 billion debt through spending cuts and efficiency measures, prioritizing taxpayer value and sustainable budgets.

Revive Ontario’s Economy: Ontario, once Canada’s economic engine, has been labeled the "sick man" of North America due to its lagging productivity and economic decline. Per capita GDP growth has averaged just 0.7% annually since 2000, the weakest in Canada, and labour productivity in 2023 was $57 per hour, three-quarters of Alberta’s. The province’s reliance on mass immigration to prop up growth masks deeper structural issues, with a net loss of 116,000 residents to other provinces over the last four years, signaling a lack of confidence in Ontario’s future. High taxes, red tape, the decision to sink billions into failed EV subsidies, and Ford’s failure to address these issues have left Ontario vulnerable.

Address the "sick man" status by cutting red tape, lowering taxes, and boosting productivity to restore Ontario as Canada’s economic engine, reducing reliance on hollow, immigration-driven growth.

Reduce Dependence on Temporary Labour and Foreign Students: Ontario’s economy has become dangerously dependent on temporary foreign workers and international students from fraudulent post-secondary institutions. In 2023, Canada hosted over 2.5 million non-permanent residents, with Ontario absorbing nearly half of this influx. This reliance, driven by an aging population, disloyal employers, and some legitimate labour shortages, has fueled housing, healthcare, and crime crises, leading to soaring rents and home prices and strained public services. Conservative critics, economists, and immigration experts argue this model exploits students and workers while suppressing wages, and fails to invest in sustainable, domestic workforce development, which undermines long-term economic stability.

Boost Employment and Housing Starts: Despite promises of prosperity, Ontario’s unemployment rate remains high -- at over 8.6% in Toronto in 2025 -- above the national average. And Ontario has fallen behind the rest of the provinces in housing starts, despite record unsustainable growth to its population.

It's time to better implement pro-business, pro-development policies to create jobs, lower record-high unemployment, and cut red tape and development costs to better foster opportunity and hope for the future for all Ontarians.

Promote Unity and Safety: Ontario has become a hot-bed for diaspora grievances, violent protest, and scenes of lawlessness. It's time to act decisively to curb divisive protests and hate rallies, and to foster a united and safe Ontario through stronger leadership.

Respect Conservatism: The Ford camp's public endorsements and campaign-style interventions in the 2025 federal election were widely criticized by groups like the National Citizens Coalition and by those hoping for change to a failed Liberal status quo after nine long years. Displays of reasonable campaign criticism quickly devolved into a perceived daily effort to sabotage the Conservative campaign. Better must be expected, with the acknowledgement that 'Liberal-lite' hasn't worked for the province to date.

Premier Ford and his camp should be expected to cease public interference into federal Conservative affairs and focus on better governing Ontario.

So, what's the underlying message of Ontarians for Responsible Government? That true conservatives must hold ‘Conservatives’ to account. No premier or government should be above criticism, regardless of the amount of blue in one’s laundry.

In support of common-sense Ontarians, the NCC pledges to better hold these 'Conservatives' to account. Ontario deserves leadership that respects its history, restores its economy, unites and protects its communities, and upholds its integrity. Results have been lacking for far too long.

To sign Ontarians for Responsible Government, visit the campaign page.

Alexander Brown is the Director of the National Citizens Coalition, Canada’s longest-serving conservative non-profit advocacy group.