With the political stage set and the stakes higher than ever, Ontario’s major party leaders have hit the campaign trail, each painting a vision for the province’s future ahead of the February 27 election. As voters brace for the first winter election in over four decades, the candidates are making bold promises—some vowing to fix what they claim is broken, others pledging to fortify Ontario against external threats.
Doug Ford: A Fortress Ontario
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford is gunning for a third consecutive majority, positioning himself as Ontario’s economic guardian in the face of international headwinds. Standing against the iconic backdrop of the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ford took direct aim at U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariffs on Canadian goods.
“I’m asking the people for a strong, stable four-year mandate to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario,” declared Ford, who set this election in motion 15 months ahead of schedule, a move Elections Ontario estimates will cost $189 million.
Ford vowed to pump “tens of billions” into economic safeguards if necessary, drawing parallels to his administration’s financial response to the COVID-19 crisis. “Ontario won’t start a fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’ll be ready to win one,” he declared, as gusts from the Detroit River punctuated his speech.
The PC leader also doubled down on his controversial alcohol sales expansion, a policy carrying a $612 million price tag. “I believe the people should have a choice and the convenience if they want to grab a beer,” he said. “What I’m happy about is convenience stores are making a little more money, they’re hiring more people.”
Marit Stiles: Championing Affordability
New Democratic Party Leader Marit Stiles is placing affordability at the heart of her campaign, arguing that the province has become increasingly unlivable since Ford’s government took office in 2018. Speaking from Regent Park in Toronto, she painted a dire picture of rising costs and growing despair.
“People are leaving our province, forced out of communities they grew up in. Young people are losing hope. Seniors are ending up homeless. It’s tough out there,” she stated, highlighting job losses under Ford’s tenure.
Her campaign, branded with the slogan “On Your Side,” aims to deliver a government that prioritizes Ontarians struggling to make ends meet. She also did not mince words when it came to Ford’s self-styled deal-making abilities.
“He wants us to hire him to be our negotiator with Trump. Doug Ford our negotiator? Is he kidding?” she scoffed, pointing to what she described as a track record of one bad deal after another, including the Ontario Place redevelopment project.
Stiles also took a swipe at Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, questioning her ideological stance. “Today’s Liberal leader would be right at home as a cabinet minister in Doug Ford’s government. Bonnie Crombie doesn’t want to get rid of Doug Ford—she wants to be Doug Ford.”
Bonnie Crombie: A New Liberal Era
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, hoping to revive her party’s fortunes after two consecutive elections without official party status, focused her message on healthcare. Campaigning in Barrie, alongside local candidate Dr. Rose Zacharias, she spotlighted a crisis affecting 2.5 million Ontarians.
“We’re launching our tour here in Barrie because 55,000 people residing in this area don’t have access to a family doctor,” said Crombie, sporting a white cap emblazoned with the slogan “Real Leaders Fix Healthcare.”
Promising to tackle the doctor shortage head-on, Crombie is leveraging her experience in business and municipal leadership. “I understand government and I know how to get things done,” she asserted.
She also countered Stiles’ critiques, arguing that the NDP has failed in its role as the Official Opposition. “They’ve also had seven years to make a difference and make a change—they haven’t gotten it done.”
Crombie was quick to frame Ford’s decision to call a snap election as an attempt to “outrun an RCMP investigation” into the government’s $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap scandal. “This isn’t a necessary election,” she argued, calling it a costly distraction from real issues.
Mike Schreiner: A Green Revolution
Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, campaigning in his home turf of Guelph, cast the election as a referendum on Ford’s governance.
“This election is a referendum on Doug Ford’s poor track-record of the past seven years,” he declared.
Schreiner lambasted what he called Ford’s “wasteful spending” that benefits “wealthy land speculators and fossil fuel giants like Enbridge” while everyday Ontarians are left struggling. He framed the Green Party as the true alternative for those who feel abandoned by the current government.
“People deserve better than Doug Ford, and this is our chance to turn things around for the many communities that feel abandoned by this government.”
Ontario Votes Amidst Harsh Winter
As the province gears up for a February election, Ontario’s Chief Electoral Officer Greg Essensa revealed that the vote will cost $189 million and require 55,000 workers to staff 7,000 polling stations across 124 ridings.
With 10.8 million eligible voters—including 81,000 homeless individuals who can register using a shelter address—turnout remains an open question, especially with winter weather in play.
Each party has a $10.8 million campaign spending limit as they fight for the hearts and minds of Ontarians. With Ford calling for stability, Stiles promising affordability, Crombie pledging to fix healthcare, and Schreiner championing environmental and economic justice, voters will soon decide whose vision aligns most with their hopes for Ontario’s future.
To be eligible to vote in Ontario, voters must be 18 years of age or older on polling day, a Canadian citizen and a resident of the province. Voters must register to vote by having their name and address added to the voting list. Voters must carry their ID to the voting centers.
