Ontario ministries spent more than $117 million on advertising in 2025–26, according to an internal tally reported by The Trillium on October 21.

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation says it obtained the spending records through freedom-of-information requests. The advocacy group is calling for a smaller advertising budget and restoration of the province’s earlier advertising rules.

In its response to The Trillium, the premier’s office cited U.S. trade pressure and the need to promote economic confidence. It also defended advertising for public-health information and recruitment of health-care workers.

The Auditor General’s 2025 report independently records $111.9 million in advertising spending for 2024–25. That earlier audited figure concerns a different fiscal year; the $117-million figure is a records-based tally, rather than a new Auditor General finding.

Sources: The Trillium’s October 21 report; Canadian Taxpayers Federation, October 20; Auditor General’s 2025 advertising review.

Editorial illustration of public advertising and spending records.