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After months of speculation, it has now been officially confirmed that Ontario is heading to the polls. Although the next election isn't required to take place until 2026, Premier Doug Ford has triggered an early provincial election. Donald Trump's recent tariff threats played a role in the decision.
“With a strong mandate, we will be able to fight with Donald Trump to make sure we stop the tariffs,” Ford said at the press conference. “We need the largest mandate in Ontario’s history,” he said. It was speculated for months that Ford would call an election this spring.
Earlier this week, Ford met with the Lieutenant Governor to dissolve the legislature. It is somewhat of a protocol that elections are called on a Wednesday with polls opening the fifth Thursday after that, meaning that Ontario will head to the polls on February 27. No budget has been confirmed yet, but the 2022 election cost taxpayers $145 million, and this snap election likely more.
Another Reason for Ford?
Although Ford says that he needs an election to combat the tariff threat, the premier has been planning the election for almost a year already. Ford has been accused of attempting to use an election to protect himself against the ongoing criminal investigation into his role in the $8 billion Greenbelt Scandal. At least eight Ford staffers have been interviewed by the RCMP, and several MPPs resigned because of corruption.
Ford has maintained that nothing criminal took place, but an explosive report by Ontario’s Auditor General found serious corruption offences by Ford’s staff. Ford’s top aides met with land developers to discuss, and pick specific land they wanted removed from the Greenbelt protection status.
The Auditor General's report found that over 90% of the land chosen was specifically recommended by developers with ties to Ford’s office. In total, Ford’s friends stand to make $8 billion in land sales, according to the report.