In an exclusive interview with QP Briefing following his rare personal appearance before the court, Attorney General Doug Downey framed the high-stakes hearing as a defining moment for Canada, centred on who ultimately has the final say on Charter rights: courts or elected governments.

Even with optimistic growth in the coming years, Ontario remains on track to fall well short of the pace needed to deliver 1.5 million homes by 2031, leaving the province’s housing shortage unresolved and its flagship promise increasingly out of reach.

Spending is set to rise alongside the growing deficit. Total program spending will climb to $244.2 billion, up roughly four per cent from last year, with health care continuing to account for the largest share at just over $100 billion. Education remains the second-largest expense.

In an interview with QP Briefing, Calandra said that while he hopes boards will adjust voluntarily, he is ready to intervene using the full scope of his authority under the Education Act.