PC Chief Doug Ford promised $22 billion in spending for infrastructure initiatives in Ontario throughout a information convention in Niagara Falls on Friday.
The funds are along with practically $200 billion he stated will go towards constructing transit, freeway and roads — together with widening the Queen Elizabeth Means between Burlington and St. Catharines to fight gridlock.
“We’re the one get together that believes in placing shovels within the floor,” Ford stated.
The PC chief can also be promising $2.5 billion towards coaching “greater than one million individuals for higher jobs and larger paycheques within the expert trades,” the get together stated in a information launch Friday.
Ford spoke at size about U.S. President Donald Trump, who is predicted to announce 25 per cent tariffs on Canada on Saturday.
“As we brace for the tariffs tomorrow, it is by no means been extra vital to maintain constructing, to construct extra, to construct quicker,” he stated.
He stated the federal authorities ought to “retaliate onerous” in opposition to the U.S. ought to tariffs go into impact.
“Meet them greenback for greenback, tariff for tariff,” Ford stated. “If [Trump] needs to place ache on Ontario households … take meals off their desk, we are going to hit him with every thing we have now.”
Niagara, St. Catharines, Welland mayors endorse Ford
Throughout Friday’s information convention, Ford was endorsed by the mayors of Niagara, St. Catharines and Welland.
“He all the time listens after which he takes motion,” Niagara Mayor Jim Diodati stated. “To me, that is precisely what we’re searching for in a pacesetter.”
NDP Chief Marit Stiles launched a press release Friday, saying there must be a unified response throughout the provinces, territories and federal authorities to the U.S. tariffs.
“Doug Ford stop his job on the eve of those tariffs to try to safe himself a 3rd time period,” the assertion learn. “Ontario desperately wants a pacesetter with higher judgment within the face of Trump’s tariffs.”
Inexperienced Get together Chief Mike Schreiner additionally launched a press release Friday, advocating for a “staff Ontario method that places individuals earlier than partisan politics.”
Ought to the tariffs go into impact, Schreiner stated the Inexperienced Get together would create a tariff job power for commerce negotiations, develop a Purchase Ontario technique and create a fund for companies disproportionately affected by tariffs.
They’d additionally diversify commerce companions, work with different provinces to take away interprovincial commerce boundaries and create an funding tax credit score “to unlock enterprise investments in Ontario,” the assertion learn.
Friday marks the third day of the election marketing campaign. The snap election, known as by Ford, will probably be held on Feb. 27.
