Report: Ford plans to call an early election on Wednesday

Toronto - According to CBC News and The Canadian Press, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is expected to call a snap election next Wednesday. If that happens, voters will head to the polls on February 27. Ford, first elected in 2018 and re-elected with a landslide in 2022, says Ontarians need to give him a new mandate to deal with the threat of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods. Trump has said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian goods crossing the border, a move that could have a huge impact on the Canadian and Ontario economies. Ford already holds a massive majority in the legislature, and he is calling this vote possibly to get ahead of a government that could come to power federally under the Conservatives. Historically, Ontario voters tend to vote for the party not in power in Ottawa. Once an election is called, Ford will face NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, who say Ford is also trying to get out of the way before the RCMP finishes its investigation into the Greenbelt scandal in southern Ontario. Since Trump's election, Ford has worn a blue "Canada is not for sale" hat and has threatened retaliatory measures if the U.S. president imposes tariffs on Canadian goods, including threatening to cut off electricity to northern states and pulling all American liquor from LCBO shelves. Federally, the Liberal Party leadership race is set for March 9. Parliament is currently prorogued, and both the NDP and Conservatives have said they plan to hold an election as soon as possible. In Ontario, election campaigns last four weeks. Source: https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/report-ford-plans-to-call-snap-election-on-wednesday-10123996