Toronto, ON – The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is praising the Ford government for delivering meaningful tax relief in its 2025 budget, but warns that a growing debt casts serious doubt on its commitment to fiscal responsibility.

“Making the gas tax cut permanent is a clear win for taxpayers because is it’s the kind of practical, lasting relief that families need,” said Nicolas Gagnon, Communications Director at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. “But borrowing billions and billions of dollars every year with no plan to pay down the debt is financially irresponsible.’’

The Ford government is planning to borrow $14.6 billion dollars in 2025-26 — a major setback from the $1.5 billion shortfall projected in its most recent fall economic statement.

Revenues are projected to be $220 billion, but the government is increasing spending to $233 billion. The province will waste $16.2 billion just to cover interest charges on the debt this year.

“This is the Ford government’s seventh budget and it hasn’t paid down the debt even once,” said Gagnon. “Taxpayers are stuck paying over a billion dollars a month just to pay interest charges on the debt. That’s not leadership — that’s irresponsible.”

The bright spot in the budget is the province’s decision to permanently cut the gas tax by 5.7 cents per litre. The cut was temporarily introduced in 2022 and will continue to deliver real savings at the pump.

“Lowering costs for drivers is smart and fair,” said Gagnon. “But real affordability also means getting spending under control. You can’t build prosperity on a pile of debt.”