The conservative progressive chief Doug Ford insists that Ontario is not vulnerable during an electoral campaign in instruction which he described as a possible trade war with the United States.
But Ford warned difficult times to come on Saturday if US President Donald Trump is right on his wish to impose 25% prices on Canadian products.
Ford called the elections last week.
He justified it by saying that he needs a new mandate from Ontarians to spend tens of billions of dollars to help people during a trade war, if it occurs.
The Prime Minister dissolved on Tuesday the provincial Parliament, which means that bills cannot be adopted until the formation of a new government. The election of Snap is set for February 27 and could cost taxpayers up to $ 189 million.
However, the province is not weak, Ford said at a campaign freezing on Saturday morning in Brampton, Ontario.
“It will give us more strength, more certainty, because at the moment the only sure thing with President Trump is uncertainty, and when you have a strong four -year mandate, it gives us much more force when we Negotiate “,” he said.
Ford spoke as if the prices were concluded.
The White House said on Friday that prices on Canada, Mexico and China products came on Saturday, but they had not yet materialized when Ford stopped his campaign.
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Trump targets the Ontario automotive sector with prices, saying that he does not need or does not want Canadian manufacturing cars. He wants these cars to be made in the United States
During his last mandate, Trump signed the most recent free trade agreement between the two countries and Mexico, which specifically dug a car agreement. Cars, parts and raw materials are shipped in both directions through the Canada-American border several times as they are built.
Trump now wants to tear this agreement.
If the prices pass, the Ontarians will quickly feel the pain, said Ford.
“The weeks and months to come will be among the most difficult we have ever faced,” he said.
“The impact of these prices will be felt almost immediately. Companies’ orders will slow down, factories will have to reduce changes, workers may lose their jobs. »»
Opposition leaders accused Ford of having called the first elections before the fixed date of June 2026 to take advantage of good survey numbers and to get out of this year’s federal elections. They say he uses Trump’s pricing threats as an excuse for personal purposes.
Ford insists that he can still act as the first first by campaigning and has planned two trips to Washington, DC, scheduled for February which, according to him, would be paid by the PC festival.
Ford diverted questions on Saturday as for whether he would be able to implement his “economic action plan” to respond to prices during the campaign.
But he said it would be the electorate’s decision to advance with the measures, which implies that they will come after the elections if he wins.
Part of the plan includes a 22 billion dollars recovery set to build infrastructure, which, according to Ford, would go forward independently of Trump’s movements.
The NPD chief Marit Stiles said that Ford should not have called early elections.
“A minister does not leave his job when we are immersed in a crisis like this,” said Stiles during a campaign stop in Toronto.
“So he decided to leave his job. I run to be the Prime Minister of this province and I will fight for each job, each person in each sector in this province. »»
The campaign of the Liberal chief Bonnie Crombie said on Saturday that Ford’s efforts to warn the prices had been a failure so far.
Crombie also campaigned in Toronto on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the leader of the Green Party Mike Schreiner was at the door of Kitchener, Ontario, and supported the re -election campaign of his deputy chief.
Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner speaks to the media in 2022.
Andrew lahodynskyj / Canadian press
– With Maan Alhmidi files in Brampton, have.
This Canadian press report was published for the first time on February 1, 2025.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press