Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested holding an early election if his government must spend billions countering threatened US tariffs.
“I think, if it comes to it and we have to spend tens of billions of dollars, we go to the people, let the people decide. It’s their money, it’s not the government’s,” Ford told reporters at the Royal Ontario Museum.
When asked about calling an election over Trump’s tariffs, Ford replied: “Let’s take a look at what happens on Jan. 20 or 21 and [it] all depends on what sort of tariffs he’s putting in there.”
Ford made the remarks while discussing “Fortress Am-Can,” a series of proposals to strengthen US-Canada trade relations, despite President-elect Donald Trump’s statement that his country needs nothing from its northern neighbor. Trump has threatened 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, which Ford warns will hit Ontario hardest.
The opposition immediately rejected the prospect of an early election. New Democratic Party leader Marit Stiles urged all parties to return to the legislature, which will resume on March 3, to develop a unified response to potential tariffs.
“I don’t think Doug Ford needs to go to the polls to get that [support]. He’s fooling the people of Ontario if he’s telling you that. He knows he has a majority government,” Stiles said.
The remarks follow Ford’s recent statement that he lacks a “mandate from the people” to spend billions on economic supports. Ford will meet other premiers and the prime minister in Ottawa on Wednesday to discuss the federal response to tariffs.
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