Ontario’s premier Doug Ford dissolved parliament on January 28th, 2025, and called an election for February 27th–15 months before the scheduled election. The Progressive Conservatives lost 4 seats since the last election in 2022, which put them at 79 seats just before the election. After the election, the PCs now have 80 seats in parliament, with the NDP keeping their role as the official opposition with 27 seats, one less than before the election. This election has been very disappointing for many people, myself included. Doug Ford has done irreparable damage to Ontario, and voters now gave him another four years to further his agenda.
The candidate most people were eyeing during the campaigns was Bonnie Crombie, former mayor of Mississauga, and current leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario. In the 2018 elections, the Liberals lost official party status in the legislature, by going from 55 seats, to just 7. This meant Crombie had a big job, pulling her party back from the devastating loss. During the closing statements of the second debate, she outright asked voters who voted NDP in the last election to vote Liberal this time around. Although she did not win a seat herself, under her leadership, the Liberals are back to official party status, with 14 seats in parliament. The Liberal caucus decided to keep her as party leader, even without a seat for herself, because of their ‘victory’. In a more interesting turn of events, Crombie lost her seat to Patrick Brown’s mother-in-law. After Crombie’s claim of Mississauga subsidizing Brampton under the Region of Peel framework, this certainly didn’t help ease tensions between the cities.
Even after being surrounded in controversy, Doug Ford’s support has not taken much of a hit. The Greenbelt scandal was one of the bigger examples that come to mind. During the 2018 election cycle, Ford promised to not touch the Greenbelt, after a video came out of him saying he will open a big chunk of the Greenbelt to developers. The RCMP is now in charge of an investigation into the Ford government’s land swap (removing parts of the Greenbelt whilst adding other parts). Highway 413 is a controversial planned highway project to be built in the northern part of the GTA. Most recent estimates claim it will cost $6 billion. Other parties have said that removing the tolls on the 407 would be cheaper, faster, and more cost effective, when it comes to relieving east-west traffic in the GTA. Ford has recently also spoken about plans to dig a tunnel under the 401 to relieve congestion, and it is unclear what the cost and timeline of such a plan is.
Ford spent $225 million to end a deal with the Beer Store early, which allowed grocery and convenience stores to sell beer and wine. He also sent Ontarians a $200 check just weeks before the election. The snap election itself cost $189 million according to Elections Ontario. Even the $1.3 billion Ford’s government has invested into schools for repairs and maintenance that is advertised at the back of the school, has only led to new light switches being installed in every classroom. These performative actions show what Ford’s priorities are, trying to sway public opinion in his favour.
The most performative in my opinion, is his very public stance on Trump’s tariff threats. With the resignation of Trudeau, Canada was in a precarious place, our sovereignty was being tested, and we were left without a legitimate leader. Doug Ford saw this as his opportunity to wear and sell hats with slogans and make threats back to the US.
Photo Credits: Himanshi G.
THE NORTH STAR 