Prime Minister Doug Ford plans to call a provincial election next Wednesday, which would send the inhabitants of Ontario to the surveys on February 27, confirmed a progressive senior conservative source to CBC News.
The planned electoral call would continue months of speculation that Ford wanted to face voters before the fixed date of 2026.
The planned call would arrive just after Ford’s progressive candidates meet for a “super caucus” event to discuss the strategy for the next provincial elections: two government sources have confirmed to CBC News that the meeting will take place this end this end of week.
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 the tools, training and resources necessary for a winning electoral campaign,” says the invitation. “His participation is crucial to guarantee a successful campaign and our collective success as a team.”
The sources tell CBC News that Ontario’s prime minister, Doug Ford, could trigger a provincial election as soon as next week. Ontario’s opposition leaders say that a quick choice is not needed more than a year earlier than expected. Lorenda Reddekopp of CBC has the details.
Ford has repeatedly said that he believes that he needs a new mandate of the inhabitants of Ontario to respond to the possible economic devastation that could be forged by the president of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to impose a rate of 25 percent on the Canadian goods. The invitation echoes that feeling, saying that candidates must be prepared to ensure a mandate.
That is even though Ford has a large majority in Queen’s Park, where the legislature is currently at rest.
On Monday night, the chief of Ford Cabinet, Patrick Sackville, sent an email to PC employees who told them that the government needs a “strong mandate” to defend Ontario, and added: “The louder it is The mandate, better. “
Ford told reporters to “be attentive” when he was given the idea of an early election call on Thursday.
When asked about the Super Caucus event, Ford said the party would be “having everyone and told them what is happening.” He said it was an opportunity to talk about the rates and did not mention an early electoral call.
The opposition parties say that now it is not the time for an election
As the speculation of an early election intensified in recent weeks, the three opposition parties in Ontario said it was not the time of one.
In reaction to the news, the official opposition of the NDP Marit Stiles said that the prime minister already has the mandate to defend the province, which Ford has said that he could see half a million losses of jobs due to US rates.
“There are not 500,000 jobs that you are looking, it’s just yours,” Stiles said Thursday night.
Mike Schreiner, the leader of the Ontario Green Party, said the opposition parties have said they will work with the prime minister to form a united front against Trump.
“The prime minister will now throw us into chaos at a time when we need stability because he is more interested in his own work,” Schreiner said, reacting to the news.
The leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario, Bonnie Crombie, shared a similar message on CBC’s Power and politics Before the news about Ford’s plans broke on Thursday.
“I should protect the jobs and prepare for threats to the south of the border and have not been able to do it so far,” said Crombie.
Why conservatives might want to vote now
There are several reasons why Ford conservatives can want an election now, according to former Liberal Cabinet Minister John Milloy, who is now the director of the Public Ethics Center at Martin Luther University College
“Doug Ford has been constantly ahead in surveys in recent months,” he said.
“This fight with Donald Trump in Washington and his role as a kind of self -produced captain Canada has increased his position and increased his profile in Ontario. I think even his critics have given him a good amount of credit.”
Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford says that “defending the country” is more important than jurisdictions. Ford was talking to journalists before the ministers meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss Canada’s response to the threat of US tariffs.
Andrew Brander, vice president of CrestView Strategy and former PC advisor, added another reason for the moment.
“I think the main contributing factor to go early is to avoid a federal choice,” he said. “Choosing calling an election by itself before federal elections gives you much more space to breathe and patience with voters.”
Meeting to include the survey update, Premier comments
Meanwhile, the “Super Caucus” meeting of the PC is run from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday at a hotel near Pearson International Airport.
During the one -day strategy session, attendees will receive an update on the surveys of the surveyor Nick Kovalis and an update on the campaign messages of the Kory Teneycke strategist, says the invitation.
The prime minister will also comment and pose for the shots in the head with candidates. The blows and signaling strategies will also be on the agenda.
