NDP: Ford gets an F for failing Ontarians

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP and Shadow Finance Minister Jessica Bell (University – Rosedale) are giving Doug Ford’s 2026 Budget an F for failing Ontario.

Stiles and Bell released their 2026 Budget Report Card, grading Ford’s latest budget on five key tests:

• Does it lower the cost of rent and groceries?
• Does it fix health care and education?
• Does it build the homes you can afford?
• Does it create good jobs and opportunities?
• Does it spend your money responsibly?

“This budget fails the test to meet Ontario’s priorities,” said Stiles. “Young people and families are struggling with sky-high rents, fewer opportunities, and soaring costs. Budget 2026 was an opportunity to deliver hope and relief for our province during a difficult moment.

“Ford’s latest budget makes enormous cuts to education, colleges and universities, jobs, and housing, while somehow finding tax dollars for a new Ferris wheel,” added Stiles. “Budgets are about choices, and Doug Ford’s choices are costing you.”

Bell said the budget fails the basic tests Ontarians expect their government to meet.

“Premier Ford had a clear test for this budget: lower costs, fix health care and education, build homes that folks can afford, and create good jobs. He failed on all counts,” said Bell. “This budget delivers cuts where Ontarians need support the most.”

“Let’s take a look at the numbers. This budget cut nearly $150 million from education, $69 million from colleges and universities, $347 million from housing, and a whopping $486 million from job creation and training,” Bell added.

“At a time where unemployment in the province is at 7.6% and over 700,000 Ontarians are out of work, it is absolutely disgraceful that this government is cutting the very programs and funding people rely on. This budget does nothing to meaningfully change the life of Ontarians, and this is why it has received a failing grade.”

Here is Doug Ford’s report card for this year’s budget:

• Lower costs: nothing for renters, nothing on grocery prices, no real relief.
• Fix health care and education: cuts to education and no plan to address staffing shortages.
• Build homes people can afford: $347 million cut and no plan to deliver affordable homes.
• Create good jobs: $486 million cut to job creation and training with no support for workers.
• Spend responsibly: money and vanity projects while critical services remain underfunded.