Premier Doug Ford is planning to call a provincial election next Wednesday, which would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, a senior Progressive Conservative source has confirmed to CBC News.
The planned election call would follow months of speculation that Ford wanted to face voters before the fixed 2026 date.
The planned call would come just after Ford’s Progressive Conservative candidates meet for a “super caucus” event to discuss strategy for the next provincial election — two government sources have confirmed to CBC News the meeting will be held this weekend.
The meeting will include several strategic updates and information sessions, according to a copy of the invitation obtained by CBC News.
“This meeting will provide you with the tools, training, and resources needed for a winning election campaign,” the invitation says. “Your participation is crucial to ensuring a successful campaign and our collective success as a team.”
Sources tell CBC News that Ontario Premier Doug Ford could trigger a provincial election as early as next week. Ontario’s opposition leaders say a snap election isn’t needed more than a year ahead of schedule. CBC’s Lorenda Reddekopp has the details.
Ford has repeatedly said he believes he needs a new mandate from Ontarians to respond to the potential economic devastation that could be wrought by U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods. The invitation echoes that sentiment, saying candidates need to be prepared to secure a mandate.
That’s despite Ford holding a large majority at Queen’s Park, where the legislature is currently on break.
On Monday night, Ford’s chief of staff, Patrick Sackville, emailed PC staffers telling them the government needs a “strong mandate” to stand up for Ontario, adding: “The stronger the mandate the better.”
Ford told reporters to “stay tuned” when the idea of an early election call was put to him Thursday.
Asked about the super caucus event, Ford said the party would be “having everyone by and telling them what’s going on.” He said it was a chance to talk about the tariffs and did not mention an early election call.
Opposition parties say now is not the time for an election
As the speculation of an early election intensified in recent weeks, all three opposition parties in Ontario said it wasn’t the time for one.
Reacting to the news, leader of the Official Opposition NDP Marit Stiles said the premier already has a mandate to stand up for the province, which Ford has said could see half a million job losses due to American tariffs.
“It’s not 500,000 jobs that he’s looking out for, it’s just his own,” Stiles said Thursday evening.
Mike Schreiner, the Green Party of Ontario Leader, said the opposition parties have said they’ll work with the premier to form a united front against Trump.
“The premier is now going to throw us into chaos at a time when we need stability because he’s more interested in his own job,” Schreiner said, reacting to the news.
Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie shared a similar message on CBC’s Power and Politics before the news about Ford’s plans broke Thursday.
“He should be protecting jobs and preparing us for the threats south of the border and he’s failed to do that up until now,” Crombie said.
Why conservatives might want a vote now
There are several reasons Ford’s conservatives may want an election now, according to former Liberal cabinet minister John Milloy, who is now the director of the Centre for Public Ethics at Martin Luther University College
“Doug Ford has been consistently ahead in the polls over the past several months,” he said.
“This fight with Donald Trump in Washington and his role as a sort of self-appointed Captain Canada has upped his standing and upped his profile in Ontario. I think even his critics have given him a fair amount of credit.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says ‘standing up for the country’ is more important than jurisdictions. Ford was speaking with reporters ahead of the premiers’ meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss Canada’s response to the threat of U.S. tariffs.
Andrew Brander, a vice-president at Crestview Strategy and former advisor to the PCs, added another reason for the timing.
“I think the major contributing factor to going early is to pre-empt a federal election,” he said. “Choosing to call an election on one’s own accord prior to the federal election gives you a lot more sort of breathing room and patience with with voters.”
Meeting to include polling update, remarks from premier
Meanwhile, the PCs’ “super caucus” meeting is set to run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at a hotel near Pearson International Airport.
During the day-long strategy session, attendees will receive an update on polling from pollster Nick Kouvalis and an update on campaign messaging from strategist Kory Teneycke, the invite says.
The premier will also make remarks and pose for headshots with candidates. Door knocking and signage strategies will also be on the agenda.
