Ontario’s political scene is buzzing as parties ramp up their election strategies ahead of the snap election.
Ontario: The political scene in Ontario is heating up. With a snap election on the horizon, parties are scrambling to get their acts together. Premier Doug Ford is set to meet with the lieutenant-governor to kick off the campaign, aiming for a vote on February 27.
Ford claims he needs a fresh mandate to tackle looming tariffs and represent Ontario effectively. But the opposition isn’t buying it, accusing him of playing politics to take advantage of favorable polls.
Now, everyone’s in a rush to finalize candidates and platforms. The Liberals have been prepping for months, focusing on fundraising to be ready for this moment. Genevieve Tomney, their campaign co-director, says they’re ready to hit the ground running.
As of now, the Liberals have over 100 candidates lined up, though their website shows only 46 officially nominated. The NDP is also on the move, with 36 candidates nominated and more on the way after a recent training session for campaigners.
The Progressive Conservatives have candidates in 88 ridings, mostly familiar faces from their caucus. They held a big meeting this weekend to strategize for the upcoming campaign.
Ford was a bit vague when asked about a fully costed platform, giving mixed signals about whether it would be released. In past campaigns, they’ve used budgets as platforms, which has raised eyebrows.
The Greens are also making strides, having nominated half of their candidates. They’re targeting specific ridings where they think they can win, like Parry Sound-Muskoka, where they came close last time.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner is optimistic about increasing their seat count, emphasizing their focus on people over profits, especially regarding housing and healthcare issues.
