Ontario's premier calls for early elections amid trade tensions with the U.S

Monday 27 January 2025 - 10:37

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced plans to call for early elections in the province in response to looming trade tariffs. Ford stated that he would meet with the lieutenant governor on Tuesday and expects the elections to be scheduled for the following Wednesday. He emphasized the need for a clear mandate from the public to effectively tackle the trade tariffs imposed by the U.S.

President Donald Trump recently declared that his administration intends to introduce a 25% tariff on goods from Canada and Mexico, set to take effect on February 1st. Ford, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, expressed that with a strong mandate, his government would be equipped to eliminate the tariffs and provide certainty to the people of Ontario.

The next provincial elections in Ontario were originally slated for June 2026. However, according to a recent poll by Léger, the Progressive Conservative Party is currently leading with 46% of voter intentions, followed by the Liberal Party of Ontario and Ontario NDP with 22% and 19%, respectively.

Ford also highlighted the potential economic impact if these tariffs were implemented, estimating that the province could spend billions of dollars to support Ontarians, businesses, and communities. A report from the province suggests that up to half a million jobs could be at risk due to the tariffs.

In response to the growing tensions, Canadian Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly announced plans to travel to the U.S. to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Joly stated that she had already raised concerns about the negative effects of the tariffs on the U.S. economy and job market in a recent conversation with her U.S. counterpart. She emphasized that the tariffs would have widespread consequences, not just for Canada, but for the U.S. as well, as trade between the two nations is valued at $3.6 billion daily.