CCI’s Statement on the Results of the Ontario Election

Today Ontarians cast their ballots and re-elected Premier Doug Ford and the PC Party for a third majority government mandate. In response to the election result, CCI’s Director of Ontario Affairs, Skaidra Puodžiūnas, issued the following statement:

"On behalf of the Council of Canadian Innovators (CCI) and our members, I’d like to congratulate Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party on securing another majority government mandate from voters.

"This election took place against the backdrop of rising trade hostilities from U.S. President Donald Trump, and during the campaign, Premier Ford underscored made it clear that his priority is to guide Ontario through this period of uncertainty. The best way for Ontario to build a resilient, prosperous economy is by shifting away from branch-plant economics and ensuring that homegrown, high-growth technology companies have the conditions to scale globally.

"With the election now behind us, the government must get to work as quickly as possible to implement long-term economic strategies in response to these trade hostilities. Ontario has a generational opportunity to position itself as a leader in the industries of the future. To do this, we must move beyond outdated economic models that have made us vulnerable to external shocks. Instead of relying on foreign direct investment as the primary engine of growth, Ontario’s economic policy should focus on supporting companies that are developing and commercializing intellectual property, strengthening supply chain resilience, and securing access to growth capital. This approach will not only drive innovation but also ensure that more of the wealth created in Ontario stays in Ontario.

"CCI’s What Ontario Innovators Need to Scale agenda, released during the election, outlined the critical policy issues that the provincial government must address, including:

• better access to procurement opportunities for domestic innovators,
• a strategy to retain and develop top-tier talent,
• lowering healthcare costs by accelerating innovation, and
• measures to ensure that Ontario’s tax and regulatory environment supports rather than stifles scale-up companies.

"The current global landscape demands that Ontario act decisively to strengthen its economic foundation, and our recent Toronto Star op-ed emphasized how Trump’s tariffs expose our vulnerabilities, reinforcing the need for Ontario to take control of its economic destiny.

"We look forward to working with Premier Ford and his team to ensure that Ontario’s most promising technology firms have the policy environment they need to thrive. The hard work begins now, and we are committed to collaborating with the government to implement forward-thinking policies that will drive prosperity for generations to come."

Media Contact:

James McLeod
Director of Communications
jmcleod@canadianinnovators.org