Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s recent comments — suggesting that young people struggling to find work simply “aren’t looking hard enough” — are not only disappointing, they’re deeply misguided and out of touch with current economic realities.
As Christians, business professionals, and responsible citizens, we believe in truth, compassion, and accountability. Dismissing youth unemployment as laziness fails to consider the systemic barriers and flawed policies that are hurting both young workers and entrepreneurs across Ontario.
A Complex Job Market, Not a Lack of Effort
Ontario lost 26,000 jobs in August 2025 alone — more than any other province — according to Statistics Canada. While the unemployment rate dropped slightly, it was only because fewer people are actively looking for work. Youth unemployment remains alarmingly high at 14.5% nationally, with major Ontario cities like Windsor, Oshawa, and Toronto leading the country in joblessness.
To claim that young people “just need to try harder” ignores the broader picture. It’s not effort that’s missing — it’s opportunity.
Immigration, Regulation, and the Shrinking Private Sector
Ontario continues to welcome record levels of immigration, which, while important for long-term demographic and economic health, has short-term consequences if private sector job creation is lagging. Compounding this is the rise of illegal labor practices and unregulated hiring, often within immigrant-owned businesses, that may sidestep legal norms and even exploit vulnerable workers.
Meanwhile, small businesses — the heart of Ontario’s job creation — are burdened by wage controls, ESG mandates, and excessive regulatory policies. These policies, particularly at the provincial and federal level, are discouraging investment, slowing growth, and making it increasingly unprofitable to hire.
Ontario Needs a “Right to Work” Revolution
One of the most damaging policies contributing to youth joblessness is the provincial minimum wage. It is a well-intentioned law with unintended consequences: it creates a price floor on labor that locks out entry-level workers, especially the young and under-skilled.
As Christians, we believe that work is good (Genesis 2:15), and that every person should have the freedom to offer their labor at a wage they deem acceptable — even if it’s below an arbitrary government standard.
“Right to Work” laws, which exist in parts of the United States, allow individuals to work freely without forced union membership or wage mandates. They foster flexibility, entrepreneurship, and growth — all things Ontario desperately needs right now.
Doug Ford’s Missed Opportunity
Premier Ford could have taken a compassionate, solutions-focused approach. He could have acknowledged the youth employment crisis, highlighted the skilled labor gap, and championed market-based reforms to lower barriers to hiring.
Instead, he chose to blame the very demographic that is suffering most under the weight of poor policies, inflation, and stagnating opportunities. This is not leadership — it’s deflection.
As Christian leaders, we are taught that words have power (Proverbs 18:21). When leaders speak carelessly, especially about the next generation, the consequences are both economic and spiritual.
Christian Ethics and the Dignity of Work
Let’s be clear: work is a biblical value. The Apostle Paul wrote, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). But Paul was speaking to a community of opportunity, not one where entry-level jobs are regulated out of existence.
If a young person is willing to work, but no one is hiring due to high wage laws, taxes, and red tape, the fault lies with governance, not laziness.
Ontario already provides robust social assistance programs. For those unwilling or unable to work at prevailing market rates, welfare is available. But for those who want to work, let’s remove the barriers that prevent them from doing so. In fact, one could argue that a form of Universal Basic Income already exists for many, such as single mothers or those on long-term social assistance, who receive more than minimum wage workers in net government support.
Let the Market Breathe — And Watch the People Thrive
Ending minimum wage laws doesn’t mean exploiting people. It means restoring freedom, flexibility, and opportunity — especially for the young, the immigrant, and the under-skilled.
By removing government-mandated wage controls, we:
- Incentivize hiring
- Create pathways for workforce entry
- Generate taxable income
- Reduce welfare dependency
At the same time, we must simplify regulatory compliance, especially for small businesses, and push back against mandates that have nothing to do with economic growth — such as forced speech laws or excessive ESG criteria that penalize entrepreneurs who don’t conform.
A Warning from Scripture
Scripture warns us not to oppress the laborer (James 5:4). But forced wage laws that prevent people from working at all are also a form of oppression — especially when they protect large corporations at the expense of the small employer and job-seeking youth.
When we suppress economic freedom, we stifle human dignity, and we create environments where idle hands are tempted toward sin and destruction. If we leave our youth with nothing but time, frustration, and dependence, we should not be surprised when crime rises, hope declines, and families break down.
Conclusion: Ontario Needs Reform, Not Blame
Doug Ford has been rightly praised in the past for standing against radical policies coming from Ottawa. But in this case, his words were careless, and his position — blaming youth instead of addressing policy failures — is spiritually and economically wrong.
What Ontario needs is a renewed commitment to freedom, to entrepreneurship, to right-to-work laws, and most of all, to truth and compassion in leadership.
A Final Word
Jesus Christ is the source of all wisdom, and in Him, there is both compassion and justice. He calls us to work with our hands, but also to care for the poor and to create systems that uplift, not oppress.
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” — Colossians 3:23
Let us build a province — and a country — where every young person who wants to work, can. And if you’re reading this and feel discouraged, know this: you are not forgotten. God sees your struggle, and He has a plan for your life.
Consider making Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior today. Through Him, all things are possible — even rebuilding an economy on righteousness, fairness, and hope.
