Ford’s economic growth is driven by immigration – manufacturing continues to be hollowed out

By: Greg Staley

Written On: 2025-02-26

Ontario’s economy is being propped up by record amounts of immigration as manufacturing continues to decline – yet Ford continues to spend billions on corporate welfare.

According to a TD Bank report from November 14, 2024, titled: “Ontario’s Industry-based Outlook: Navigating Turbulent Waters,” the province is seeing “weaker labour income growth” and goods-producing industries are declining. As the report details, “goods-producing industries will have likely tumbled at its steepest rate since the pandemic” in 2024.

The report says that Ontario’s GDP numbers look better “thanks to a helpful boost from tremendously strong population growth.’ The report then adds that the numbers are “still modest.”

This explains why nearly 80% of Ontario’s GDP is likely to be accounted for by service industries – “a record high share” the article states. Simply put, Ontario’s economy is now largely service industry-based and is likely being spurred on by record amounts of immigration.

It’s not hard to see how record immigration also drives housing demand which accounts for 40% of Canada’s GDP as a whole according to Remax.

At the same time, the province has experienced record immigration, which Doug Ford has bragged about, the economy of the province has shrunk by nearly 3% since mid-2022.

So what’s the solution for the Ontario economy that Doug Ford has continued to put in the toilet after taking over the reins from the equally fiscally reckless Liberals? Well, the solution isn’t to spend billions more than even Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals would have dared to spend.

That’s right, Doug Ford is spending more money than the Wynne Liberals. What does the province have to show for it – a declining manufacturing sector and an economy dependent on record immigration levels.

Instead of spending billions on corporate welfare, perhaps Doug Ford could use that money to make Ontario competitive for businesses. That won’t happen though as Doug Ford loves to reward insiders with your taxpayer dollars. What we have seen from Ford is the same policies that the Liberals would’ve promoted except without the transparency – so much for being “Conservative.”

To support Diverge Media, please consider donating through the link below.