Struggling to Keep Up? You’re Not Alone
Every month, it gets harder to make ends meet. Grocery prices are through the roof, rent is unaffordable, and basic necessities cost more than ever before. Despite working harder than ever, Ontarians are falling further behind. Meanwhile, the wealthiest corporations continue to rake in record profits while the government does little to ease the burden on everyday families. How did we get here, and more importantly, how do we fix it?
Decades of Bad Decisions Led to This Crisis
The Liberals (2003-2018) Ignored the Warning Signs
The affordability crisis didn’t happen overnight. For decades, both Liberal and Conservative governments have failed to address rising costs, leaving Ontarians struggling under the weight of corporate greed and government inaction. The previous Liberal government did little better. While they promised affordability measures, their failure to rein in housing speculation and implement meaningful rent control allowed real estate prices to explode. Instead of creating an economy that worked for everyone, they catered to developers and large corporations, leading us to the crisis we face today. Under their leadership, home prices soared while real wages stagnated. The privatization of Hydro One led to skyrocketing electricity rates, adding to the financial burden on Ontarians.
The PC Government (2018-Present) Made Things Worse
Instead of reversing the mistakes of their predecessors, the PC government doubled down on policies that benefit corporations at the expense of working families. The cost of housing, groceries, and energy has skyrocketed while wages remain stagnant. Rather than tackling price gouging and ensuring fair wages, The PCs have prioritized corporate tax breaks and subsidies that benefit big business, not working families. He overturned an independent energy board decision that would have lowered hydro rates, allowing Enbridge to pocket billions while Ontarians pay more. He has also cut key public services, forcing people to rely on expensive privatized alternatives. Ford’s decision to scrap rent controls for newly built units further exacerbated the housing crisis, making it easier for corporate landlords to drive up prices unchecked.
The Cost of Living Is Spiraling Out of Control
Housing Costs Are Out of Control: In Ontario, there isn’t a single city where a full-time minimum-wage worker can afford even a one-bedroom apartment. Homeownership is now a dream reserved for the wealthiest, with corporate landlords and speculators pricing people out of their own communities.
Food Prices Keep Rising: Grocery store giants like Loblaws continue to post record profits while Ontarians struggle to put food on the table. Essential goods that were once affordable are now luxury items, with no intervention from the provincial government.
Energy Bills Are Soaring: Ford’s government has protected fossil fuel companies over consumers, overturning policies that would have saved people money on their energy bills. Instead, Ontarians are paying more for hydro and heating while executives take home multi-million-dollar bonuses.
Wages Haven’t Kept Up: While the cost of living has exploded, wages have remained stagnant. A minimum-wage worker in Ontario earns less than $16 per hour, while the living wage in many regions is over $20 per hour. People are working longer hours just to afford the basics.
The Green Plan to Make Life More Affordable
The Ontario Greens have a bold plan to make life more affordable for everyone—not just the wealthy and well-connected.
- Cut Taxes for Working Families: We will cut taxes for individuals making under $65,000 and households earning under $100,000, saving people up to $1,700 per year.
- Crack Down on Price Gouging: We will introduce strict anti-gouging laws to prevent corporate giants from unfairly hiking prices on groceries and essentials.
- Make Housing Affordable Again: We will remove the land transfer tax for first-time homebuyers, eliminate development fees on homes under 2,000 sq ft, and introduce a speculation tax on multiple-property owners to curb real estate hoarding.
- Lower Energy Bills: We will reinvest in renewable energy, remove Enbridge’s unfair fossil fuel subsidies, and offer zero-interest loans for energy-efficient home upgrades.
- Raise the Minimum Wage to $20/hr: To ensure every Ontarian can afford basic necessities, we will raise the minimum wage and tie it to inflation.
By prioritizing affordability, fairness, and sustainability, the Ontario Greens will put money back in your pocket and build an economy that works for everyone.
Why the Other Parties Won’t Fix This
🔵 The PCs Have Failed Ontarians. They had years to address affordability, but instead, he’s made things worse. His government protects corporate profits while forcing Ontarians to pay more for basic needs. His administration has actively dismantled consumer protections, making it easier for grocery chains, energy companies, and landlords to increase prices unchecked. Ford’s decision to scrap rent controls for newly built units has only exacerbated the housing crisis, making it easier for big landlords to drive up costs. His close ties to developers and land speculators have ensured that new housing projects benefit the wealthy, not the people who actually need affordable homes. If re-elected, the PCs will only continue to put corporate interests before the well-being of everyday Ontarians.
🔴 The Liberals Talk Big But Deliver Little. Their past promises of affordability led to skyrocketing housing prices and unsustainable cost-of-living increases. Under their watch, housing prices in Ontario reached unprecedented highs as they failed to implement real rent control policies or curb housing speculation. They introduced measures that were too little, too late, allowing corporate landlords to take advantage of loopholes that have driven rents up ever since. The Liberals also failed to protect Ontarians from energy price hikes, overseeing the disastrous privatization of Hydro One that resulted in skyrocketing electricity bills. A return to Liberal governance would mean more empty promises and ineffective policies that only serve to maintain the status quo.
🟠 The NDP Lack the Bold Vision We Need. While they talk a good game on affordability, their failure to push for meaningful action when they had the chance shows they lack the leadership needed to tackle this crisis. In past elections, they campaigned on fixing housing affordability, yet they have consistently failed to present concrete and actionable plans to address the issue. They often side with developers rather than pushing for real housing reforms that would actually help renters and first-time homebuyers. Their economic policies remain vague, and they have been hesitant to take a strong stance against corporate greed, making them an unreliable choice for real economic change. Without a bold plan to combat inflation, corporate price gouging, and the cost-of-living crisis, the NDP remains a weak alternative.
✅ That leaves one choice—the Green Party of Ontario
Unlike the others, we aren’t beholden to developers, lobbyists, or the status quo. We are the only party committed to ensuring that Ontario’s economy works for people, not corporations.
This election, don’t vote for more of the same broken policies. Vote for the only party that puts working families before corporate interests. Vote Green—the only true strategic vote.
