ONTARIO, Canada — Doug Ford has secured his third term as the premier of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, winning the election against the backdrop of tariff tensions with the United States. Voters have granted Ford and his Progressive Conservative Party a fresh mandate amidst escalating threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has proposed imposing tariffs of 25% on all Canadian imports and a 10% levy on energy starting Tuesday. The actions have raised concerns across Canada, with Ford addressing these threats in his victory speech.
Ford, speaking to an enthusiastic audience at a Toronto event center, declared, “Donald Trump thinks he can break us, but he doesn’t realize the strength of our unity. Canada will never be the 51st state, and Canada is certainly not for sale.”
Congratulatory remarks came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who stressed the importance of unity during this period. “We must work together to defend Canadian interests and safeguard our economy,” Trudeau stated.
Ford called an early election this January, cutting short the previous political cycle. His focus was to secure a longer four-year term to fortify Ontario, especially in light of its role as Canada’s manufacturing and automotive nucleus. He emphasized that his tenure has been marked by working collaboratively across various government levels to deliver results.
In anticipation of Trump’s tariffs, Ford has collaborated with Canadian leaders and engaged in dialogues with U.S. officials in Washington to advocate for Ontario’s interests. He is committed to employing significant resources to preserve Ontario’s jobs and economic stability. There have even been discussions about increasing the costs of electricity exports to the United States as a measure to counterbalance the impact of tariffs.
The timing of the election has not been without controversy. Opposition parties questioned the motives behind the early election, hinting at possible developments related to a police investigation into Ford’s discontinued land development project. Critics argue that funds used for the election could have aided health care and housing improvements.
Political analysts like Jonathan Malloy from Carleton University point out that the looming tariffs provided Ford with a suitable pretext for the election, aligning him with public concerns about trade impacts.
Ontario, home to approximately 16 million residents and comprising 38% of Canada’s GDP, has been keenly observing the election results. Unofficial tallies show the Progressive Conservatives with 82 seats, securing a majority government. The New Democratic Party, led by Marit Stiles, has secured 25 seats, becoming the official opposition, while the Liberals and Greens captured 14 and 2 seats, respectively.
Stiles recognized the electorate’s apprehensions, stating, “Re-electing the government reflects people’s hopes for protection against the tariffs. The threat isn’t just an abstract fear but a tangible issue.”
During the campaign, the various parties pitched diverse agendas—Crombie of the Liberals focused on health care access; Stiles highlighted broad themes of affordability; and Green Party’s Mike Schreiner emphasized housing and farmland conservation.
As Malloy noted, despite its relatively low profile, the election was overshadowed by the tariff issue—an urgent concern among Canadians, leading many to prioritize economic stability above all else.
