Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party won another majority government in Ontario June 6. 

In the weeks and months leading up to that day, Ford made several promises to people across the province — better rural broadband access, more funding for mental health services, and tax credits for low income Ontarians were among the social policy promises he made. Of course, he also made some promises that were not met with praise by everyone, like to build two new major highways in the GTA. 

As Ford heads into another term of a majority government, we asked social purpose sector leaders across the province for one campaign promise of his they’d urge him to either veto or prioritize — or something they’d add to his agenda — in the next three months. Here’s what they told us: 

Some responses have been edited for length and clarity

Give the charitable sector a ‘home in government’ 

“One key promise that was missing in the PC party campaign was a home in government for the non-profit sector. With 58,000 non-profits and charities across Ontario, the sector is connected to every Ontarian across the province. Our sector is a vital partner to government in providing services and programs to communities, and creating public policy that centres communities. Currently there is no coordinated relationship inside the provincial government, and the issues the sector faces cross more than 16 different ministries. A dedicated role within cabinet would transform our relationship with government, break down silos, and coordinate across ministries to tackle problems holistically. This is all key to the sector’s long-term vitality. With this kind of relationship, we could work together on policy solutions to the unique challenges non-profits are facing, and leverage our deep connections to communities to support successful policy on the ground.” – Cathy Taylor, Executive Director, Ontario Nonprofit Network

Deal with the affordability crisis — or pay the price downstream 

“I would prioritize immediately increasing Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates, investment in affordable housing and increasing mental health supports in every part of the province. We get calls every day from people who are having to make awful decisions between paying their rent and buying groceries or prescribed medications or having to wait months on end to access mental health treatment and support. The health impacts of poverty are significant and will only add to the stress and burden on our hospital and emergency services unless we invest further upstream.” – Karen Milligan, Executive Director, Ontario 211 Services

Make sure every Ontarian has a liveable income 

“People are really struggling with rising costs and overall affordability, especially those among us with the lowest incomes. It’s these folks that must be prioritized in response to the affordability crisis, but instead they’re being neglected. An increase of a couple of quarters for minimum wage workers is simply not good enough. There is not one single region of the province of Ontario where $15.50 is considered a liveable wage. In fact, ODSP, welfare and minimum wage are all provincially set and they’re currently set to rates that serve as pathways to poverty, food insecurity and further health inequities. It’s time to actually ensure that no one gets left behind, and that starts with prioritizing liveable incomes for us all (regardless of our employment status).” – Paul Taylor, Executive Director, FoodShare Toronto

Work with charities to incentivize volunteerism 

“There are few campaign commitments that support or strengthen the role of charities and non-profits in the 2022 campaign platform. Given the absence of investment to charities and specifically volunteering infrastructure, I would ask that Premier Ford and his government recommit to working with charities and non-profits to better support the tremendous efforts made by volunteers to strengthen our communities in a number of diverse ways. Further, I would ask Premier Ford to continue to address questions of inequity in our communities by looking at issues affecting affordability, income equality and the ways that certain demographics and voices are included or marginalized.” – Megan Conway, President and CEO, Volunteer Canada

Spend the money that needs to be spent to support vulnerable Ontarians

“The promise I’d like to see prioritized is the promise to ‘get it done.’ Though there are things I’d much rather didn’t get done, like Highway 413 and health care privatization, and some I’d like to see done much better (e.g., increasing Ontario Disability Support Program payments by 20 percent or 100 percent rather than the promised 5 percent), one of the hallmarks of the past four years was a lack of getting it done at all, whether it was the autism file or eliminating hallway medicine. Whether one regards the new government’s election planks as threats or promises, the government of the past four years is notable largely for balking, backtracking, and leaving committed monies unspent. We’re still in multiple emergencies. If this incoming government sees fit to promise monies for mental health, nurses, early childhood educators, home care, Indigenous entrepreneurship, and more, I’d like to see them commit and spend the necessary resources to get things done properly. I’ll continue to advocate for better, but I would like to see more of those promises enacted ASAP to relieve suffering in our communities and create opportunities for us all to make a safer and more equitable Ontario. To get it done.” – Mojdeh Cox, President and CEO, Pillar Nonprofit Network

Stop urban sprawl 

“First off, I was truly disappointed in the lack of quality leadership across the board. While I am sure that these people are lovely humans, I don’t think I am alone in wondering where are Ontario’s great leaders? Certainly, not running for politics! The leadership of all of the parties reveals to me a fundamental question… why is it that we are unable to attract top talent and leaders into politics? What will it take to shift this dynamic? When I have asked accomplished leaders to consider running, their response, in a nutshell, is, “ Why would I take a pay cut in order to be publicly abused?” It is no wonder that voters didn’t turn out. Why would they? We will continue along this path until we fundamentally shift the leadership dynamic. Second, the issues that are most pressing for me are the ones that are difficult to reverse. The biggest issue of concern to me is Doug Ford’s ‘urban sprawl’, let’s pave over farmland, don’t bother densifying, ‘let’s build another highway so all my development buddies can make more money’ approach to planning. Planning policy negatively affects people in poverty more, eradicates desperately needed natural spaces to ensure our mental health and quality of life and is fundamentally making life in Ontario less walkable, financeable and liveable.  Small businesses need density to thrive, people need density for community and we all need density to ensure affordability and quality of life. From climate, to housing, to mental health, to small business, to nature protection, to food security, to tourism and recreation and so much more, the one thing that Ontario NEEDS to do is stop the 413, open up to 407 to be public and protect the Green and Blue Belts of our beautiful province so that we are building the Ontario that is equitable, sustainable and prosperous for all.” – Tonya Surman, Founder and CEO, Centre for Social Innovation

Build co-operative housing to solve the housing crisis

“The Ford government’s campaign promised 1.5 million homes in Ontario over the next 10 years and Ontario’s Co-operative Sector has a way to build 149,000 of those homes for deeply affordable rental and ownership. The Ontario Co-operative Association and Home Opportunities Non-profit Corporation are working with the province’s largest credit unions to build 50,000 affordable units of ownership housing over the next 10 years in Ontario without the need for grants, subsidies, tax write-offs or government handouts for households with incomes beginning at $35,0000. Additionally, many of the new homes will be modular designs built in a factory in Ontario close to the building sites to create manufacturing jobs not impacted by the seasonality of the building trade.” – Erin Morgan, Executive Director, Ontario Co-operative Association

Be more transparent and open 

“Given the overwhelming emphasis on infrastructure in the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario’s campaign, there isn’t an obvious hook to hang our hat on when it comes to commitments to science and using the best available evidence in public policy. For a start, we look forward to learning about the newly elected government’s priorities when it comes to science and research in the province. We also suggest this government consider a focus on transparency beyond fiscal openness, to give the Ontario public an opportunity to scrutinize the relationship between evidence and policy decisions. This allows the public to consider whether they agree with the decisions shaping their lives, and ultimately, to hold their elected representatives accountable.” – Rachael Maxwell, Executive Director, Evidence for Democracy 

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