Provincial party leaders are responding to a tumultuous 24 hours after U.S. President Trump delayed his tariff threat, on day seven of the campaign trail.
Here’s the latest from the provincial electoral candidates.
DOUG FORD
Ontario PC Party Leader Doug Ford was at a door factory in Ottawa this morning where he promised to support the production of Canadian made goods.
Ford touched on President Trump’s agreement to delay tariffs, which were set to come into effect today, but have been postponed for 30 days, saying Canada had managed to “avert an absolute disaster,” adding that both countries need to focus their efforts on the real threat to our economies, “China.”
He also announced the province’s plan to upload the Ottawa LRT, relieving the burden of the cost from the city to the province.
“This is about supporting the City of Ottawa, it’s about supporting local taxpayers, it’s about supporting commuters, it’s about supporting economic growth,” he said.
BONNIE CROMBIE
Liberal Party leader Bonnie Crombie released a campaign ad Tuesday morning of Conservative Party leader Doug Ford saying he was happy Trump won the U.S. election.
The one-minute video claims that the Conservative Party leader saw an attack on Ontario as an opportunity for himself.
“In Doug Ford’s Ontario, Doug always comes first, and the people of Ontario always come last,” Crombie wrote on X.
In Doug Ford’s Ontario, Doug always comes first, and the people of Ontario always come last. pic.twitter.com/EQky2ft4tC
— Bonnie Crombie 🇨🇦 (@BonnieCrombie) February 4, 2025
Speaking in Brampton Tuesday morning, Crombie questioned Ford’s motive for the election.
“That’s what I think this election is about, the failure of Doug Ford, who said he would end hallway medicine, but he didn’t get it done, he said he’d cut our taxes, but he didn’t get it done,” she said.
MARIT STILES
On Tuesday morning, NDP Leader Marit Stiles called out Ford for his comments on Trump’s election win as well.
“Doug Ford keeps making the case for why he’s not the guy for this job. He says one thing to you and another thing behind closed doors,” she wrote on X.
Doug Ford keeps making the case for why he's not the guy for this job. He says one thing to you and another thing behind closed doors.
— Marit Stiles (@MaritStiles) February 4, 2025
We can't trust Ford to get the job done and we certainly can't trust him to defend Ontario. It’s time to show him the door. https://t.co/3aCYpy8BwP
“We can’t trust Ford to get the job done and we certainly can’t trust him to defend Ontario. It’s time to show him the door,” she continued.
During a speech in Ottawa later this morning, Stiles said, “we need to defend the jobs of Ontarians instead of Doug Ford’s job,” before pivoting to education.
“We need to build a tariff proof Ontario for years to come…one way that we can do that [is] by fixing our schools and giving our kids stability and opportunity,” she continued, adding that bettering education will help build a stronger future for the province and a healthier economy.
MIKE SCHRIENER
Meanwhile, Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner is blaming Ford for failing to address the housing crisis.
Tuesday evening, he said his party will continue to focus on “tackling the housing affordability and health-care crises, addressing overcrowded classrooms, and protecting the farmland that feeds us all.”
We have a top 2 housing crisis in the world, and we're not 2.
— Green Party of Ontario (@OntarioGreens) February 4, 2025
Ford has failed to address the housing crisis for seven years. Greens have solutions to make it easier for you to buy a home. pic.twitter.com/zwCXi7akyq
On Monday his party announced its plan to save first-time homebuyers $150K on their first home, and said it intends to roll out more action items in the coming days.
