Doug Ford could trigger an Ontario election as early as next week, two sources close to the government confirmed to CBC News.
Both sources said they expect the election to be called in the first week of February, but that it could happen earlier.
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 imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods — this despite holding a large majority at Queen’s Park, where the government 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 asked about the election call Wednesday.
“We need a mandate from the people, we need a mandate to possibly spend billions of dollars to protect people’s jobs, to protect businesses, and to protect communities, and there’s only one group of people, I mean, one group that is gonna give me the mandate and that’s the people. That’s democracy,” Ford said.
As he was going into his office, the premier added: “Off the record, you guys are going to love it.”
Ontario’s next election was supposed to happen in 2026, but speculation that Ford will call an early vote has been swirling since last spring — long before Trump won the U.S. election. Ontarians, meanwhile, will soon get $200 “rebate” cheques from the government, which Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie called a “pre-election bribe.”
Earlier in the day, Vic Fedeli, minister of economic development and trade, wouldn’t speculate on if or when an election would be called.
Fedeli said the Ford government has been “laser focused” on protecting Ontario jobs in the face of the the looming tariff threat.
“These are all very, very serious issues and our job is to protect Ontario’s jobs, Ontario workers,” Fedeli said following a funding announcement in Toronto Wednesday morning.
Fedeli said he doesn’t have a campaign office set up at the moment but is prepared if an election is called.
“I’m ready anytime the premier tells us we’re going to go to a campaign.”
Ontario’s fixed-date election law explicitly allows the premier to dissolve the legislature and call an election any time before their four-year mandate is up.
Ontario’s Election Act dictates that a writ for an election — which launches the 28-day long election period — must be dated on a Wednesday.
