The Ontario government is providing about $11 billion in financial relief for workers and businesses to help protect the province’s economy from the impact of U.S. tariffs.
The measures allow trucking fleets and businesses in other sectors the ability to defer tax payments in certain areas for six months, between April 1 – October 1. Premier Ford also highlighted the province will be placing a strong emphasis on removing internal trade barriers to make Ontario’s business community more effective.
Ontario is granting relief to businesses remitting taxes under Ontario’s 10 business-focused tax programs, including the Employer Health Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Gasoline Tax, Fuel Tax, Mining Tax, Tobacco Tax, International Fuel Tax Agreement, Beer, Wine & Spirits Tax, the Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans and the Racetracks Tax.
“This is an important announcement for the trucking community, whose customer base is reeling from the tariff war,” said OTA Chair Mark Bylsma. “We are hopeful this will provide some stability between the industry and lending institutions and will complement recent federal announcements of support.”
OTA supported the government’s approach to WSIB refunds while also calling on the province to implement quick relief measures for the Ontario trucking sector.
Bylsma explained that any support programs for workers and small businesses must be designed to restrict unscrupulous businesses in the underground economy from accessing any funds.
“Companies and workers who purposefully misclassify to avoid their responsibility of paying into the system, should not get one cent from any support programs,” said Bylsma.
He added, when the province begins collecting the deferred employer health tax (EHT) payments in the fall, it also needs to enforce the countless trucking fleets that don’t pay into the EHT system.
In his announcement, Premier Doug Ford said the measures will help give workers and businesses the support they need in the face of growing economic uncertainty.
“In the face of President Trump’s attacks on Ontario’s economy, our government will do whatever it takes to protect Ontario workers and businesses,” he said. “We can’t control President Trump, but we’re in full control of the kind of future we build for ourselves. The best way to protect Ontario is to build the most competitive economy in the G7, breaking down internal trade barriers and diversifying our trade so we can build a more resilient, prosperous and secure province.”