Premier Doug Ford to call provincial election on Wednesday: Sources

Ontario Premier Doug Ford will call a provincial election on Wednesday, with Ontarians heading to the polls on February 27, sources confirm to 680 NewsRadio.

Ford plans to use U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs as the reason to send Ontarians to the polls early.

The premier has also called a “super caucus meeting” with all Progressive Conservative MPPs on Saturday.

Ford has been hinting that an early election is on the way. When asked on Wednesday he said “stay tuned” and reiterated that action was needed in the face of President Trump’s unwavering tariff threats.

“We need a mandate to protect and possibly spend billions of dollars to protect people’s jobs and there’s only one group that’s going to give you the mandate and that’s the people, and that’s what’s great about democracy. You either vote a government in or they vote them out,” said Ford.

The next provincial election was set to take place in June 2026 before Ford’s hand was apparently pushed by Trump.

A new Leger poll puts the Progressive Conservatives 24 points ahead of the Liberals, which would be enough for Ford to win another majority.

Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles, meanwhile, said Ford’s plan for an early election is “just an excuse to go to the polls when people aren’t paying attention.”

“This is all about Mr. Ford wanting to gain more seats when he already has a majority,” Stiles said while attending the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation summit in Toronto on Wednesday.

“This isn’t about standing up to Mr. Trump. Mr. Ford didn’t need a mandate from the people to spend $2.2 billion – $400 per household – to subsidize a luxury spa company in downtown Toronto,” she said in reference to the Ford government’s controversial Ontario Place redevelopment. “He never asked for a mandate for that.”

Trump tariff threat looms large

Trump has threatened to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports, citing an influx of migrants and fentanyl that he claims are coming into the U.S. from Canada.

He’s also continued his taunts about Canada becoming a part of the United States, saying if that happened the duties would be waived.

During a speech on Thursday Trump said America doesn’t need Canadian energy.

“Canada’s been very tough to deal with over the years,” he said.

After a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other premiers, Ford told reporters that Canada was coming up with a “solid plan” should Trump’s threats come to fruition.

“We need to match those tariffs dollar-for-dollar, tariff-for-tariff, and make sure that it hurts the Americans as much as it hurts Canadians,” he said.

With files from Richard Southern and The Canadian Press