Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially called an early election today, with voters scheduled to cast their ballots Feb. 27 as his Progressive Conservative party pursues a third majority government.
Ford met with Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont this afternoon to request the dissolution of the legislature, more than a year before the fixed election date in June 2026.
Dumont agreed to the premier’s request, signing a proclamation that dissolves Parliament effective at 4 p.m. today, the province said in a press release. The dissolution paves the way for the 29-day election campaign to commence on Jan. 29.
The premier has said the key motivation for his decision to call a snap election stems from the lack of strong federal leadership to confront U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of a potential 25 percent tariff on Canadian exports. Ford has said he wants a strong mandate before navigating negotiations with the United States.
“Right now, President Trump has put uncertainty to every single Canadian,” Ford said during an unrelated press conference held a few hours before visiting the lieutenant governor.
“This is not going to happen overnight, it may not happen Feb. 1, but I am sure something is coming. This will be a battle for the next four years and I want to make sure I have a strong mandate to outlast President Trump.”
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Ford said his cabinet has an “economic action plan” in the works to mitigate the effects of the tariffs that Trump has proposed.
The premier did not offer any details, but said the plan was aimed at “protecting the people of Ontario in every aspect and every sector” and would be rolled out over the course of the party’s election campaign.
Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles has been critical of the early election call.
“People need a premier who will fight like hell for every single job that’s at risk, not run to the polls over a year early,” she said in a statement. Stiles has also said she would be the right choice to deal with the Trump presidency, saying she has a lot experience negotiating with major American corporations on behalf of Ontario workers, and that her party will improve health care and address affordability issues.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie was also critical of the move, calling it a waste of money.
“Doug Ford’s Ontario has failed you,” Crombie said in a statement. “He’s wasting $175 million on an early election instead of using it to fix our broken health-care system and make your life more affordable.” Crombie says her party would be the best choice to improve healthcare and the economy.
For his part, Ford has said Stiles and Crombie wouldn’t be the right people to deal with Trump, saying, “God help us if that ever happens.”
Ford currently has a majority government, holding 79 out of 124 seats at Queen’s Park. The NDP has 28 seats and the Liberals nine. Six seats are held by independent MPPs and two by the Green Party.
Ford has vowed to do double-duty over the next 29 days by balancing his responsibilities as premier with his campaign efforts as the leader of the Progressive Conservatives.
He has also confirmed his plans to visit Washington, D.C., twice next month to lobby U.S. lawmakers against the implementation of tariffs.
