With a backdrop of Canadian and Ontario flags in Windsor, Premier Doug Ford made clear his campaign will focus on the threat of U.S. tariffs as voters prepare to head to the polls on February 27th.
Ford says he needs a four-year mandate to ensure Ontario will survive a “period of unprecedented economic risk.” He also promised to spend “tens of billions of dollars” to support workers hit by tariffs, which could come as soon as February 1st.
“Make no mistake, Ontario won’t start a fight with the U.S., but you better believe we will be ready to win one.” Ford said.
Within minutes of the news conference, Ontario Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie and NDP Leader Marit Stiles took to social media with campaign promises of their own.
“As Premier, I would make sure that every person in Ontario has a family doctor in four years,” Bonnie Crombie said on X.
“It’s official: Doug Ford quit on Ontario today. So I’m here to apply for his job,” Marit Stiles posted. “You deserve a better government. With your support, I’ll be a Premier that works for you.”
Crombie has been without a seat in Queen’s Park since her successful leadership bid for the Liberal Party in December 2023. She has said she will run in Mississauga East-Cooksville.
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner joined Parry Sound – Muskoka candidate Matt Richter on the campaign trail last week in Huntsville.
“It’s a really bad time for an election because we’re facing this Trump tariff threat,” Schreiner told 705BLACKFLY.COM. “I’ve talked to so many Ontarians who are saying we need stability, not an election.”
“If it’s about the right time, we’d say absolutely not,” Richter says about the early election call. “He already has a mandate; the PC’s already have a mandate. They have a majority government for the next year and a half to tackle the unfortunate issues going on with tariffs.”
Richter is running against current Conservative MPP Graydon Smith who says his goal for the riding has always been, “concrete, tangible results that improve the lives of the residents of Parry Sound-Muskoka.”
“With over $520 million in new funds secured since June of 2022 (not including the $1 billion for the two new hospitals),” Smith wrote in a statement. “I hope you will agree that we’ve made excellent progress over the past few years.”
Be sure to watch our video for an in-depth look at the upcoming election. For video of our interviews with Matt Richter and Graydon Smith, go to our “Feature Stories” page. We’ll be looking at other ridings across the 705 in the coming weeks.
