Premier Doug Ford to call provincial election on Wednesday

Ontario is heading for an early election, as Premier Doug Ford says he will be calling a provincial election on Wednesday.

“We will be calling an election next Wednesday,” Ford said at a transit announcement in Brampton on Friday morning, confirming what 680 NewsRadio previously reported.

“We need a mandate from the people to fight against Donald Trump’s tariffs, the attack that’s coming against our families, our businesses, our communities. And with a strong mandate, we will be able to fight with Donald Trump to make sure we stop the tariffs and make sure that we give certainty to the people of Ontario.”

The next provincial election was set to take place in June 2026 before Ford’s hand was apparently pushed by Trump. Ontarians will head to the polls on Feb. 27.

Ford said he would be visiting the lieutenant-governor on Tuesday to dissolve the legislature and have the writs issued on Wednesday.

Ford, who already has a large majority government, suggested he is not satisfied with the 79 out of 124 seats his Progressive Conservatives currently hold, saying he needs “the largest mandate in Ontario’s history.”

Ford is using the threat of 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump to justify his early election call, saying the tariffs as proposed will affect all Ontario industries and families.

Ford has said he expects Trump tariffs to hit Ontario particularly hard, specifically the auto sector. He said Ontario could lose upwards of 500,000 jobs should Trump follow through on his 25 per cent tariff threat.

“It may take investing tens of billions of dollars, we’ll do tens of billions of dollars. It’s no different than during the pandemic, we’ll make sure we secure people’s livelihoods and I will do whatever it takes to protect the people of Ontario, in turn, because we’re the engine of Canada protecting all Canadians. We will not back down,” said Ford.

Ford called a “super caucus meeting” on Saturday with all Progressive Conservative MPPs to discuss election strategy.

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

The 2022 election cost $145 million. Elections Ontario said it does not yet have a budget for the snap election.

Opposition parties say election is not necessary

Opposition parties have said an early election is not necessary because they would support stimulus spending, and Ford already has a mandate to protect Ontario’s interests.

The threat of tariffs is exactly why the premier should not be calling an election, Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said.

“We need to demonstrate strength through unity to defend Canadian workers, Canadian jobs and Canadian companies,” he wrote in a statement.

“But Doug Ford is putting his job before your job.”

Rumours of an early election have been swirling since last spring, and NDP Leader Marit Stiles said Ford has just landed on tariffs now as the justification.

“I think he’s just been looking for an excuse, an excuse so that it will distract from the fact that his government is under criminal investigation by the RCMP,” she said.

“He says that he needs a mandate to fight for jobs in Ontario? I have a message for him: you are the premier of this province. It is your mandate every single day to fight for the jobs of working people in this province.”

The RCMP is probing the government’s decision to open up parts of the protected Greenbelt for housing development — a now-reversed policy that saw a handful of developers stand to benefit to the tune of more than $8 billion, according to the auditor general.

Ford has said he is confident nothing criminal took place.

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called Ford’s explanation for an early election “reckless and opportunistic.”

“Ontarians will have an opportunity to evaluate Doug Ford and his performance and I think they’ll give him a failing grade,” Crombie said in an interview with CityNews.

“Doug Ford has a mandate, it’s called a majority government. He can pretty much pass any legislation right now that he wants to, give any response on tariffs to the federal government because let’s be honest, he’s going to be a bit player in these negotiations, this is a federal responsibility.”

Ford shot back at his main rivals, positioning himself as the man to deal with Trump.

“Imagine Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles sitting across from President Trump negotiating a deal. It would be an absolute disaster,” he said. “And God help us if that ever happens.”

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