Ontario party leaders are kicking off their election campaigns today ahead of the provincial election next month.
The Premier of Ontario met with the Lieutenant Governor yesterday, who accepted his request to dissolve Parliament and call an election.
Ford launched his bid for re-election in Windsor, with Detroit, MI as his backdrop.
He presented a mandate that hinges on protecting jobs, preventing President Trump from imposing tariffs, and building Canada’s economy.
“In these uncertain times, I’m asking the people of Ontario for their trust…to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario,” he said on Wednesday morning, adding that people in the province and across Canada are facing an “unprecedented challenge.”
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Ford is referring to Trump’s looming 25 per cent tariffs, which The White House intends to implement on Feb. 1.
Meanwhile, Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie spoke in Barrie this morning, planting healthcare as the key pillar of her campaign.
“We’re here today because Doug Ford doesn’t care about you,” she began.
“He’s decided to spend $175 million on an early election that we don’t need, rather than spending that money on getting you a family doctor, or do anything to make your life a little easier,” Crombie continued.
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She is calling for a province that caters to the ambition of young people, who she says can not purchase homes, find jobs, obtain a family physician or afford to start families.
Meanwhile, New Democratic Party Leader Marit Stiles made an announcement in Toronto this morning.
“It is time for new people and new ideas,” she stated, before critiquing Ford’s decision to hold a snap election early, which she said he called in the interests of electing him “chief negotiator with Trump.”
Stiles also called Ford’s negotiation and decision making skills into question. “Over and over he makes bad deals for Ontarians, just one example, Ontario Place,” she said, which will cost taxpayers $2.2 billion.
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Stiles says she is ready to fight for higher workers wages and better benefits, to protect jobs and reinstate Ontario’s promise of opportunity.
“Good schools for our kids, a family doctor, an affordable life, but that’s not today’s Ontario…young people are losing hope, seniors are ending up homeless,” she said.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner officially tabled his candidacy at Queen’s Park as well today.
“Ford has called an election, abandoning the people of Ontario, when people need him the most,” he said, adding that during his time in office housing costs have gone up, emergency rooms have closed, 2.2 million people have been left without a family doctor, and classrooms have become overcrowded.
“Clearly Doug Ford cares more about protecting his own job than he does about your job, or making your life more affordable or better,” he said.
Ontario Greens will put “people over profits,” Schreiner continued, adding that his party will fight to build affordable homes and fix the healthcare and education systems.
