TORONTO — Ontario’s NDP and Liberal leaders tried to maintain voters targeted on well being care Monday, at the same time as actions by the U.S. president threatened to as soon as once more draw consideration elsewhere within the provincial election marketing campaign.
Progressive Conservative Chief Doug Ford has tried to make coping with President Donald Trump the poll query within the snap Feb. 27 election he known as, and stored his sights set on these exterior forces Monday.
Trump has mentioned he intends to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all metal and aluminum imports into the USA as of Monday, and Ford mentioned at a marketing campaign cease in Oakville, Ont., that he spoke within the morning to the heads of Stelco and Dofasco.
“We will face this for 4 years: shifting goalposts continually and fixed chaos, all designed to harm our financial system and undermine our staff,” Ford mentioned.
He introduced that if re-elected, he would ban Chinese language fairness from Ontario government-funded vitality, vital mineral and infrastructure belongings. The Progressive Conservatives mentioned there was no Chinese language fairness in government-funded vitality tasks throughout their seven years in authorities.
The announcement got here in the future forward of a mid-campaign journey Ford is ready to make to Washington, D.C., with the opposite premiers to push again in opposition to the broad tariffs Trump has threatened in opposition to all Canadian items.
The opposite social gathering leaders have expressed issues in regards to the potential tariffs — NDP Chief Marit Stiles added a last-minute cease to her Monday itinerary to speak to steelworkers in Hamilton — however wish to hold speaking to voters about well being care, which they see as a weak spot for Ford.
“Let’s be actually clear right here — the Liberals earlier than this did begin the fireplace in our health-care system, however Doug Ford poured gasoline throughout it,” Stiles mentioned at a Toronto marketing campaign cease.
“Hospitals throughout Ontario are dealing with excessive strain, with many emergency rooms having to shut their doorways. Sufferers are being handled in hallways due to a extreme scarcity of nurses.”
Authorities figures beforehand obtained by The Canadian Press by way of a freedom-of-information request present that Ontario will want 33,200 extra nurses and 50,853 extra private help staff by 2032.
Stiles introduced that she would rent not less than 15,000 nurses over three years at a value of $1.5 billion, set up secure nurse-to-patient ratios so sufferers get extra care and nurses do not burn out, and finish reliance on for-profit momentary health-care staffing companies.
Liberal Chief Bonnie Crombie as soon as once more highlighted her plan to make sure everybody in Ontario has a household physician in 4 years. Ford’s $189-million election name is supposed to distract Ontarians from the household physician scarcity, Crombie mentioned.
“He hasn’t protected our jobs,” she mentioned. “The one job Doug Ford needs to guard is his personal. In the meantime, individuals are struggling and do not have entry to a household physician. We would like a premier that may do each: defend our financial system and put money into well being care and supply Ontarians with the fundamentals.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Feb. 10, 2025.
Allison Jones, The Canadian Press
