Ontario Premier Doug Ford moved to reassure residents and workers Thursday after Canadian-founded GFL Environmental Inc. announced it is shifting its executive headquarters from Vaughan to Miami, saying the move will not cost Ontario jobs or weaken the company’s Canadian presence.
Speaking at a news conference, Ford said GFL founder and CEO Patrick Dovigi contacted him directly about the decision. Ford stressed the company is not abandoning Ontario, describing the change as the opening of an additional executive office rather than a full relocation. He said GFL will continue employing “thousands and thousands” of people in the province and noted the firm operates as a global company.
In a statement, GFL said it will continue to grow its Canadian footprint while maintaining its Canadian jurisdiction of incorporation and its listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange. Dovigi said the move is aimed at expanding the company’s eligibility for U.S. equity indices while preserving its inclusion in Canadian ones, a strategy he said is expected to boost investor visibility and broaden GFL’s shareholder base. He also said the change will not affect jobs in Vaughan.
GFL, now the fourth-largest diversified environmental services company in North America, generates roughly two-thirds of its revenue in the United States. In Ontario, it plays a major role in residential waste and recycling collection and works with Circular Materials, the not-for-profit administering the province’s new producer-funded recycling system.
The company has faced scrutiny in recent weeks after missed recycling pickups across parts of the Greater Toronto Area following severe winter weather and the rollout of the new recycling framework. Circular Materials chief executive Allen Langdon acknowledged service disruptions and apologized to residents, saying teams were working with GFL to clear backlogs and improve reliability during the transition.
Despite those challenges, Ford said the headquarters shift should not be viewed as a loss for Ontario, emphasizing that GFL remains rooted in Canada while positioning itself for growth in international markets.