Premier Doug Ford is going to send Ontario voters to the polls a year early.
The Canadian Press was first to report Friday that Premier Ford confirmed that he plans to visit the lieutenant governor on Tuesday, which will be followed on Wednesday by the official election call.
The election will be held on February 27, more than a year before Ontario's fixed election date of June 2026.
Defending the decision, Premier Ford told reporters at a news conference in Brampton that he needs a strong mandate in the face of threatened 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods imported into the United States.
“We need the largest mandate in Ontario’s history,” he told reporters.
Chatham-Kent-Leamington MPP Trevor Jones said all levels of government must work together to stand against the threat of tariffs.
"We need clear, decisive leadership, provincially and nationally," said Jones. "I am so proud to work closely with Premier Ford, our entire caucus, and our entire team to do just that."
NDP MPP for Windsor-West Lisa Gretzky said what Ontario needs now is stability.
"This is a completely unnecessary election. We are not supposed to have an election until June of 2026," said Gretzky. "The Conservatives and Premier Ford have a majority government, they already have a mandate to do what they need to do. We're talking anywhere between $150-$200 million on an election."
Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie said winning a majority mandate now will keep Premier Ford and the Conservatives in government throughout Trump's presidency.
"Premier Ford cares about Windsor's economy and ultimately this is about the economy. Protecting our economy and growing our economy, in partnership with the United States and so we need the four-year mandate for the duration of the Trump administration so that we do not lose a step and we keep at developing this relationship," said MPP for Windsor-Tecumseh Andrew Dowie.