Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced plans for an early election, arguing that the province must take decisive action to counter an economic “attack” from Donald Trump as tensions escalate between the two close allies over trade.
However, opposition parties have criticized the move, dismissing it as a “distraction” from an ongoing criminal investigation into the government’s handling of a controversial multibillion-dollar land swap.
Ford, 60, ended months of speculation on Friday, telling reporters that he intends to meet with Ontario’s lieutenant governor early next week to formally dissolve his government and call an election set for February 27.
Seeking a third consecutive majority for his right-of-center Progressive Conservatives, Ford previously secured significant electoral victories in 2018 and 2022. He has now set his sights on winning “the largest mandate in Ontario’s history” in the upcoming vote.
Ontario, home to Canada’s most populous province and a C$1.1tn economy, serves as the country’s manufacturing hub. Experts warn that if the newly elected U.S. president follows through on his proposed 25% tariff on all Canadian imports, set to take effect on February 1, Ontario will face serious economic consequences.
“The attack is coming against our families, our businesses, our communities, and with a strong mandate, we will be able to fight with Donald Trump,” Ford told reporters on Friday.
He also criticized what he described as a “lack of leadership at the federal level,” adding, “We don’t know who is going to be the next prime minister” following Justin Trudeau’s resignation earlier this month.
Ford has emerged as one of the loudest opponents of the proposed tariffs, making frequent appearances on U.S. television to voice his concerns. In recent weeks, he has even floated the idea of cutting off electricity exports to the U.S. and banning American alcohol products if necessary—an approach that starkly contrasts with other conservative premiers in Canada.
Doug Ford
“The premier is likely thinking that if the tariffs take effect, they will have a significant economic impact. Any retaliation by Canada will be highly controversial and come with economic consequences of its own,” said Randy Besco, an associate professor of political science at the University of Toronto.
“Voters tend to punish governments when the economy suffers, even if the government isn’t directly responsible. So Ford’s team might be calculating that the economic climate could be worse a year from now. Right now, they feel they’re in a strong position and can run on that.”
Despite Ford framing the election as a fight against the tariffs, his political rivals argue that there is already broad consensus across Ontario for a strong response to Trump’s trade policies.
While Ford intends to focus his campaign on the economic threat, opposition parties are expected to shift attention to what they claim is a government mired in “corruption” and overreach through contentious policies.
Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie accused Ford of choosing “recklessness over responsibility” in a video message posted on social media.
“[Ford is] answering chaos by creating more chaos at a time when we need stability and certainty,” she said. “This election shows us that the only job he’s interested in protecting is his own.”
The leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party echoed similar concerns, claiming that Ford’s call for an election is a deliberate attempt to “distract from the RCMP’s criminal investigation into his government.”
In October 2023, federal police announced the launch of a criminal probe into a controversial plan to open greenbelt lands for development, intensifying a political scandal that has rocked the province and led to the resignations of several high-profile government officials.
Despite these controversies, both opposition parties continue to trail far behind Ford’s Progressive Conservatives in the polls.
“All the reasons Ford wants an election are exactly the reasons opposition parties don’t want one,” said Besco.
