In a world where trade rules and supply chains are being upended, we must grow investment and get things built in Ontario. This must prioritize critical mineral and clean energy projects and our electricity grid; as well as making and using tech that helps manufacturing, construction, mining, and other industrial sectors decarbonize and optimize. These sectors will help unleash prosperity for Ontarians and strengthen our energy and economic security, and our sovereignty. 
 

By attracting a greater share of the $2 trillion per year that flows globally into these industries, we can: make our economy more productive by making traditional industrial operations more energy and cost efficient; create jobs and produce more made-in-Ontario things like EV’s batteries, steel, and cement products, along with energy storage and other clean energy tech; help businesses power their operations and move products reliably with a more diverse energy and infrastructure mix; and diversify our product offering and markets. 
 

Ontario has many advantages and has made big moves to grow the clean economy. We have an abundance of clean electricity, and more supply is being added to meet demand. We have an untapped supply of critical minerals. Ontario has attracted big investments and become a hub for EV and battery manufacturing. Many sectors are also already using clean tech to be more competitive. However, building off these advantages has always been dependent on long-term policy and market certainty, which was already a challenge. Tariffs have made it worse. 

That’s why we must respond to immediate tariff threats and strengthen our economy. In addition to steps government has already taken, we recommend the following actions. 

MAKE AND BUY MORE ONTARIO PRODUCTS NOW

• Building on the ‘Buy Ontario Strategy’, remove red tape and create incentives to procure more home-grown, low-carbon building materials and energy efficient buildings.
• Ontario should advocate that the federal government broadens existing measures (i.e., update the Federal Standard on Embodied Carbon to add materials like wood and aluminum).

HELP ONTARIANS PREPARE FOR NEW JOBS

• Build off the existing Skills Development Fund and create a ‘People Powering the Economy’ skills training, reskilling and talent attraction program stream that specifically supports getting projects built, maintained and operating in the fields of critical minerals, clean energy and electricity infrastructure.

ENGAGE FIRST NATIONS AS FULL PARTNERS

• Expedite getting critical minerals, clean energy and electricity infrastructure projects built by efficiently implementing the expanded $3B Indigenous Opportunities Financing Program.
• Communicate to First Nations and public about how strict environmental oversight and recognition of Indigenous rights will be maintained.

CREATE GUARDRAILS ON POLICIES TO AVOID UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

• Ensure Bill C-5, which amends the Electricity Act and Ontario Energy Board Act to allow bans on procurement from regions and countries, has guardrails around when and how it’s used. If passed, this bill will hinder manufacturers’ access to key components they need to build when supply is not available in Canada.

In addition to these immediate actions, New Economy Canada has additional recommendations to help grow Ontario’s clean economy.

• Champion an interprovincial supply chain initiative to identify demand (both domestic and global) for components to build clean energy, electricity and mining projects that could be produced in Canada using Canadian resources. Help build manufacturing capacity and markets for these in-demand products. 

• Maximize billions of dollars of federal funding, including by:  
  
  • Finalizing a provincial Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) strategy that leverages federal investment tax credit. 
    
  • Introducing Investment Tax Credits for clean energy projects that can stack with federal ones (e.g., CCUS, Clean Electricity, and Clean Technology Manufacturing ITCs). 

• Tell the world Ontario is open for business by: Setting clean economy investment targets for 2030+ benchmarked against competitors (e.g., Foreign Direct Investment, R&D, jobs, revenues, GDP, permitting speed). 

• Launch a clean economy-focused ‘Team-Ontario’ trade and investment mission.