Doug Ford’s team hints at an early election amid rising tensions over U.S. tariffs
Ontario: So, it looks like Doug Ford’s office is gearing up for an early election. They sent out an email right after Trump announced those hefty tariffs on Canadian exports. The memo, which got into the hands of Global News, suggests Ford wants a stronger mandate to tackle the situation.
Ford’s chief of staff, Patrick Sackville, called Trump’s announcement “unnecessary and wrong-headed.” He warned that these tariffs could hit a lot of people in Ontario hard. It seems like Ford is ready to use this issue as a rallying point for voters.
In the email, Sackville emphasized that they need a strong mandate to stand up against Trump and work with other provinces and the federal government. He made it clear that they see this as just the start of a tough battle.
Ford, who was re-elected in 2022, currently has 79 seats in the legislature, just shy of the 63 needed for a majority. He’s been vocal about needing a new mandate to deal with the challenges posed by the U.S. administration.
Opposition leaders aren’t buying it, though. They argue that Ford already has a mandate and should be focusing on leadership instead of calling for an election. The Ontario Liberal Leader even said that an election would be a way of dodging his responsibilities.
While no election date has been set yet, the Progressive Conservative Party is already prepping for a campaign. They’re appointing candidates and some MPPs are even putting up billboards to get the word out.
It’s clear that the political landscape is heating up, and it’ll be interesting to see how this all plays out in the coming weeks.
