Ford sent the prime minister a letter Monday setting out a series of Ontario priorities that he hopes Carney will address, including accessing critical minerals, building an electric-vehicle supply chain and enacting bail reforms.

At a meeting in March with the premiers, Carney asked them to identify "nation-building projects." Ford's letter sets out his list of areas he wants the federal government to prioritize "that would be transformational for Canada's economy."

But the "nation-building" project drawing the most attention is a driver and transit tunnel expressway under Highway 401.