Our government is working hard to deliver on items that matter to Ontarians. In this edition of the Weekly Update, you can find the latest news on what the Province is doing to:
- Rebuild Ontario’s Economy
- Support New Innovations and Discoveries
- Advance Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown Towards Mississauga
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Rebuilding Ontario’s Economy
In Northern Ontario, we are advancing the building of all-season roads to the Ring of Fire to bring prosperity to First Nations and Northern communities. We are unlocking the economic potential of the critical minerals that will help power Ontario’s electric vehicle battery supply chains. Minerals mined in Ontario will power electric vehicles built in new Ontario factories by Ontario workers, purchased in Ontario and around the world.
In Hamilton, ArcelorMittal Dofasco is making a $1.8 billion investment to replace its coal‐fed coke ovens and blast furnaces with new, low‐emission technology. And in Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma Steel is investing $700 million in a low‐emission electric arc furnace.
In St. Thomas, Volkswagen’s $7 billion investment in its first overseas electric vehicle battery cell plant is creating 3,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs.
In Windsor, the NextStar Energy EV battery plant will support 2,500 Ontario workers, with more than $5 billion invested in Ontario.
And in Loyalist Township, Umicore is creating 600 new direct jobs with a $2.7 billion investment.
Over the last three years, Ontario created almost 900,000 net new jobs, the fastest growth on record.
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In fact, Ontario is the only place in North America where five of the largest auto manufacturers have set up shop. In addition, Volkswagen is establishing its first overseas electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing plant in Ontario.
This success is not an accident. It is a direct result of our government’s plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy by investing in workers and keeping taxes low.
These investments and our economy are powered by one of the cleanest grids in North America. Our government is leading the future of nuclear energy by building the first grid-scale small modular reactors in Canada. At the same time, we are supporting the refurbishment of the Bruce, Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Generating Stations with pre-development work also underway for a new large-scale nuclear plant at the Bruce nuclear site.
As part of a pragmatic plan that includes natural gas, investing in and bringing online more clean nuclear energy will fix the mistakes of past governments’ energy policies with sensible policies that support economic growth and keep costs down for people and businesses.
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Ontario Investing To Support New Innovations and Discoveries
The Ontario government is investing over $278 million in research projects at universities, colleges, research institutes and research hospitals across the province. The funding is being delivered through the Ontario Research Fund and the Early Researcher Awards and supports researchers in making discoveries that help advance the development of innovative new products and technologies.
“By investing in cutting-edge research, we are safeguarding Ontario’s position at the forefront of innovation that continues to be competitive on a global scale and has the ability to attract the best and brightest talent to our province,” said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “This will help ensure the social and economic opportunities that result from discoveries made in Ontario benefit Ontarians and the Ontario economy.”
This funding will support 406 research projects across the province, helping institutions attract and retain top research talent, and cover the costs of research operations and infrastructure, including building, renovating and equipping research facilities with laboratories and the latest technology.
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These Ontario Research Fund projects support multiple provincial priorities, including:
Ontario’s Life Sciences Strategy
- $9.9 million for the University of Toronto to revitalize the Toronto High Containment Facility — the only level 3 lab that supports the research and clinical needs of partner research hospitals in the Greater Toronto Area. This work will provide the expertise, research and infrastructure necessary to mobilize a rapid response to future emerging infectious diseases.
Critical Minerals Strategy
- $2 million for Lakehead University to develop novel models for industry partners to help them find new mineral deposits for potential mine development in northern Ontario.
- $2 million for the University of Waterloo to explore and evaluate strategies for minimizing the negative environmental impacts of arsenic-bearing mine wastes.
Driving Prosperity: The Future of Ontario’s Automotive Sector
- $2 million for the University of Guelph to create an advanced battery pack for electric vehicles that is sustainably made, flameproof, and lighter and safer than other batteries that are currently available on the market.
Grow Ontario: A Provincial Agri-Food Strategy
- $1.1 million for Queen’s University to develop microbial inoculants, which are a natural alternative to fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides that deliver nutrients to plants. These inoculants will help reduce costs for Ontario’s farmers and increase resiliency in Ontario’s agri-food sector by reducing reliance on imports.
The research sector is a key source of innovation and commercialization in the province, making it one of the leading contributors to Ontario’s global competitiveness and productivity. These investments support the province’s long-term economic growth, while fostering a skilled labour force and promoting new business opportunities in Ontario.
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Advancing Construction on the Eglinton Crosstown Towards Mississauga
The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension (ECWE) will bring the Eglinton Crosstown LRT 9.2 kilometres farther west, creating a continuous rapid transit line from the east end of Toronto through the heart of the city and into Mississauga, with an estimated 69,700 rides expected each day. The extension will also connect with other regional transit operators, including UP Express, GO Transit, TTC, and MiWay bus services, making it faster, easier and more affordable to get around, saving commuters up to 24 minutes on a single trip.
The Ontario government is issuing a Request for Qualifications for the design and construction of seven stations along the ECWE, marking another milestone. Tunnelling work for the line began in 2022 with two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) digging east from the launch site near Renforth Drive to the extraction shaft at Scarlett Road.
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Ontario is investing more than $70 billion over the next decade to transform public transit in the province, which includes the largest subway expansion in Canadian history – the Ontario Line, the Scarborough Subway Extension, the Eglinton Crosstown West Extension and the Yonge North Subway Extension.
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My constituency office is open Monday to Friday from 10AM to 4PM.
If you have any questions or concerns we’re readily available to assist you.
You can also reach us by phone at (416) 781-2395
or by email at robin.martin@pc.ola.org.
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Warmest Wishes,
 Robin Martin, MPP
Eglinton-Lawrence
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