Clean Energy Canada | In tumultuous times, the new Ontario government must focus on building a sustainable economy
February 28, 2025

TORONTO —Ollie Sheldrick-Moyle, clean economy program manager at Clean Energy Canada, made the following statement in response to the results of the 2025 Ontario Election:

“We congratulate Premier Doug Ford on his reelection. With the threat of U.S. tariffs still looming, it’s now time for a strategic focus on Ontario’s economic future, rethinking the province’s place in a global economy that is moving in a very different direction than the Trump administration. 

“Premier Ford has succeeded over the past two mandates in attracting many key clean economic investments, from EV battery manufacturing to clean steel. Even as our neighbours are drawn into a backward-looking focus on fossil fuels, a resilient Ontario is one that stays focused on this bigger prize. 

“Clean electricity will be key to retaining and building on this advantage. By expanding domestically produced clean energy, Ontario can boost its manufacturing sectors while lowering household bills and shielding consumers from volatile fossil fuel price swings. 

“The party’s election platform contained some positive signals on this front, including  Ontario’s first integrated energy plan (which will help Ontario prepare for the lowest cost and most resilient energy transition) and a commitment to building new electricity grid connections to neighbouring jurisdictions. This follows some key investments already made in building a clean power grid, including the largest grid-scale battery storage facility in the country.

“While the government has laid out investments in nuclear power to expand non-emitting generation in the province, these projects will take many years to come online. Ontario needs to get off of fossil fuels shipped across borders as rapidly as possible, and when it comes to speed and price, renewables are clear winners. Investing in renewables today also avoids building more fossil fuel infrastructure that may prove costly or redundant in the years ahead. 

“After all, clean power will be pivotal to attracting further clean economic investment. To this end, we welcome the additional commitments detailed in the platform focused on stimulating economic growth and helping Ontario businesses weather the storm of tariffs, from an Ontario-made manufacturing credit to a $1 billion Skills Development Fund and another $5 billion for a Protect Ontario Account. These programs, if properly designed, can both protect businesses and workers while supporting industries with clear growth opportunities in the energy transition.

“We are also encouraged by the government’s continued commitment to a Home Renovation Rebate Program and hope to see the program expanded to ensure more households benefit from the cost savings that come from ditching fossil fuels. 

“The platform also noted that the province intends to leverage public procurement to help fortify its manufacturing sector. We hope it uses this as an opportunity to both prioritize EVs and add low-carbon conditions to public procurement, also known as ‘Buy Clean,’ which offers a trade-compliant route to boosting cleaner, Ontarian-made products. 

“Finally, it’s also great to see the existing Aboriginal Loan Guarantee Program tripled into a $3 billion First Nations Opportunities Financing Program to help First Nations invest in and own major projects across Ontario.

“With a bumpy road ahead, we hope that this new government stays focussed on the bigger global prize. U.S. election cycles only last four years. The energy transition is permanent.”

KEY FACTS

  • In Alberta and Ontario, wind can now produce electricity at lower costs than natural-gas-fired power with even more cost reductions on the horizon. Even when the costs of battery storage are included, both wind and solar are cost-competitive in many scenarios, a Clean Energy Canada report found. 
  • A household in Toronto that switched its gas cars for electric versions, swapped out its natural gas appliances, installed a heat pump, and made some modest energy efficiency upgrades would cut $550 off its monthly bill, even taking into account upfront costs.
  • The world now invests almost twice as much in clean energy as it does in fossil fuels, according to the International Energy Agency. 
  • In 2023, 70% of Ontario’s natural gas was supplied from the U.S. Meanwhile, Ontario exported over 30 times more electricity to the U.S. than it imported. In short, relying on electricity instead of natural gas would result in greater energy independence.  

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