It’s day two on the provincial campaign trail, and the four Ontario party leaders are already setting the stage for what promises to be a heated race.
For the first time in more than a century, Ontario is holding a winter election, and it carries a hefty price tag of an estimated $189 million.
With Ontario’s political landscape in full swing, each candidate is making their mark, from unveiling key policy promises to engaging with voters in local communities.
Read More
Here’s what the Ontario provincial party leaders are up to today.
DOUG FORD SPEAKS IN LONDON
Ontario Progressive Conservative Party leader Doug Ford headed to London today to reiterate his vow of protecting Ontario’s auto industry.
Ford says that he’s seeking a four-year mandate to invest in the upkeep of Ontario’s auto sector, which he says would be severely impacted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposed tariffs.
“We’re entering a period of unprecedented economic risk and lengthy negotiations against President Trump,” Ford said.
“We didn’t pick this fight, but you better believe we’re ready to win it.”
The PC leader said he’s prepared to invest $1 billion in the province’s Skills Development Fund, on top of an already existing $1.5 billion, in hopes of expanding union trading centres and to help workers find employment in high-demand trades.
Ford also said his government would invest $100 million into Better Jobs Ontario, which would see fast-tracking streams for workers in sectors that are vulnerable to trade disruptions.
An additional $38 million would go toward mobilizing action centres, Ford said, which would in turn help areas susceptible to layoffs so local workers could have better options.
“You can count on me to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario and Ontario jobs, to build our economy, to protect workers, keep us competitive, clean up our streets, and deliver better care,” Ford said.
MARIT STILES HEADS PROVINCEWIDE IN STYLE
NDP leader Marit Stiles unveiled her brand new campaign bus as she prepared to head to Kitchener and then Windsor later today on a provincewide tour.
Stiles is expected to make a stop in New Hamburg at 2:30 p.m., and will later be at the Beerded Dog Brewing Company in Harrow starting at 6:00 p.m.
Her tour comes one day after campaigning in York—South Weston, where she stressed that Ontarians were ready for better schools and more doctors, something she says Ford’s current government is not providing.
“This is the moment where we CAN turn a new page on Ford’s Conservatives and elect a government that’s on your side,” Stiles said in a post on X.
BONNIE CROMBIE IN MISSISSAUGA
Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie opened her campaign office in Mississauga this morning and continued to hammer down on Ford for being selfish for calling an early election.
“You know we’re all here today because Doug Ford doesn’t care about you, right?,” she said.
“He’s called a snap election in the middle of winter because he’s trying to outrun an RCMP investigation.”
She continued by saying if Ford was serious about Trump’s tariff threats, that “he’d be at his desk right now, protecting us, coming up with a plan and strategy.”
Crombie reiterated that one of her priorities, if elected, would be healthcare and getting more Ontarians family doctors.
She even cited a concerning situation where more than one thousand people were recently seen waiting in line to access a family doctor in Walkerton, ON.
Read More
“We saw 1,014 people lined up at Walkeron. Seniors in parkas bundled up in their wheelchairs, waiting six hours in a snowstorm for access to one new family doctor in Walkerton. Shameful.”
“Doug Ford doesn’t have the right priorities and over the seven years things have only gotten worse. I ask you, is your life more affordable today than it was before Doug Ford. No. The reality is that is not the case,” she concluded.
MIKE SCHREINER VISITS FERGUS
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner is expected to visit Grove Youth Wellness Hubs todain Fergus, ON.
After launching his campaign yesterday, in a post on X, he slammed the Ford government for putting profits over the betterment of Ontarians.
“The Ford government has abandoned Ontarians. We’re fighting to put people before profits, every day,” Schreiner said on Wednesday.
The official date for Ontario’s general election is Feb. 27.
