By Lincoln DePradine

Premier Doug Ford is taking Ontario into an early provincial election, but an alliance of forces wants to stop him and his Conservative Party from forming the government for a third consecutive time.

President of Canadian Union of Public Employees in Ontario, Fred Hahn, who was among more than 30 labour leaders that met earlier this week, said that “by calling this election, Doug Ford is trying to distract us from his record of failure as Premier”.

According to Hahn, “we can and we must use the power of our votes to fire Ford, so that anyone who works for a living can finally get ahead”.

Nigel Barriffe, vice president of the Elementary Teachers of Toronto (ETT), has slammed Ford for his handling of education and healthcare in the province.

“Seven years of Doug Ford’s cuts and corruption have left us weaker, poorer, and more divided. Millions of dollars have been wasted on unnecessary elections—just so Ford can tighten his grip on power. He already has the majority, but it’s not enough for him. He’s calling this election as a cynical ploy to hold onto seats and extend his influence,” Barriffe said.

“Change is possible. But, it requires us to work together to reclaim our schools, rebuild our healthcare, and protect our future.”

Ford won general elections in the province in 2018 and 2022. He had until June 2026 to call the next provincial poll.

However, the Ontario’s legislature was dissolved on Tuesday and campaigning has begun for an election that will be held February 27.

Ford insists he needs a new mandate—with the biggest majority in provincial history—to represent Ontario’s interests amid threatened tariffs from American President Donald Trump.

“This is gonna be a battle for the next four years. I want to make sure I have a strong mandate to outlast President Trump,” said Ford.

The premier has said that the 25 percent tariffs threatened by Trump would devastate Canada’s economy and cost Ontario thousands of jobs.

 “The people of our province, like people across Canada, are facing unprecedented times,” Ford said. “I am asking the people of Ontario for their trust. I’m asking for a strong, stable, four-year mandate to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario.”

Ford’s opposition colleagues in the legislature are not impressed.

Opposition Leader Marit Stiles, who heads the New Democratic Party, claimed that Ford is “pursuing his own political gain” by shutting down the provincial legislature for an early election. 

“People need a premier who will fight like hell for every single job that’s at risk, not run to the polls over a year early,” she said.

Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie charged that Ford is wasting $175 million on an early election, instead of using it to fix our broken health-care system and make your life more affordable.”

The calling of a snap election by Ford is “opportunistic”, unnecessary and “irresponsible”, according to trade union officials, including president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, Laura Walton.

 “Doug Ford’s decision to shut down the legislature—destabilizing the province in favour of heading to the polls for his own political gain—is opportunistic, reckless, and irresponsible,” she said. “It’s not Doug Ford who will pay the price for these tariffs; it’s Ontario workers, their families, and the communities they call home. British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Manitoba have all established tariff tables to address the threat to jobs and communities. It’s time Ontario followed suit.”

Erin Ariss, provincial president of the Ontario Nurses’ Association. added that “we cannot stand idly by as Doug Ford unnecessarily shuts down the legislature while Ontario’s health-care system is in chaos. Front-line health-care workers know how outrageous it is to see politicians focused on getting re-elected while urgent issues, like addressing the nursing shortage, remain ignored.”

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