Ontario voters could also be heading to the polls in late February and the 2 Thunder Bay incumbent MPPs have very totally different takes on the premier calling an early election, whereas different events look to verify candidates.
Premier Doug Ford stated on Friday that he plans to name an early election subsequent Wednesday, claiming he needs a powerful mandate from Ontario voters to cope with the financial threats of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Thunder Bay-Atikokan MP Kevin Holland stated the Progressive Conservative Celebration caucus went forwards and backwards on plans for an early election.
“For me, it really came down to the fact that we have a very unpredictable, volatile president in the United States right now that has already demonstrated his intentions with regards to tariffs, and the impacts that those would have on Canada and Ontario are great, of course,” he stated.
“When I thought about it, I thought we need to have a strong government with a strong mandate for the full term of President Trump.”
Holland added the specter of 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian items imported into the US could be devastating to the Canadian economic system. He used the instance of softwood lumber, which is already topic to tariffs.
“We’re going to be at like a 53 or 54 per cent tariff on softwood lumber,” Holland stated. “And I’m on the record as saying it’s a cornerstone of our economy in Northwestern Ontario, and we need to have a strong, strategic approach to how we’re going to deal with that, and that needs a strong government with a strong mandate.
But Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Lise Vaugeois of the Ontario NDP sees it very differently, saying Ford’s call for an early election is based solely on his own self interests.
“Elections cost a lot of money. There is absolutely no reason that’s in the public interest to hold an election now,” she stated. “Ford has a majority government and another year-and-a-half of a mandate from when an election would normally be called.”
The subsequent provincial election in Ontario was scheduled for June 2026. Vaugeois stated Ford has been hinting at calling an early election since final spring and is now utilizing the specter of tariffs as an excuse to drive Ontarians to the polls early.
“We see Doug Ford positioning himself as a protector of Canadian interests and I find it very hard to take it seriously because he has sold out Ontarians again and again over the last seven years,” she stated.
Each Holland and Vaugeois are in search of re-election. Judith Monteith-Farrell intends to run for the Ontario NDP in Thunder Bay-Atikokan the place she was first elected in 2018 however then misplaced to Holland in 2022 by lower than 1,000 votes.
A press release from the Inexperienced Celebration of Ontario stated candidates in Northern Ontario are anticipated to be introduced within the coming days.
The Progressive Conservative Celebration Driving Affiliation in Thunder Bay-Superior North was contacted relating to who’s operating as a candidate however didn’t reply previous to deadline.
Liberal Celebration of Ontario Thunder Bay-Superior North Driving Affiliation president Jason Veltri stated candidates in each native ridings are anticipated to be confirmed this weekend.
However he too stated Ford’s name for an early election is disrespectful to Ontario voters.
“Doug Ford is continuing to put himself above those he serves in Ontario,” Veltri stated. “Ontario does not need an election right now. We need Doug Ford focussed on the work he was elected to do, and that means dealing with affordability issues, health care, and dealing with the existential threat of Donald Trump and his tariffs.”
New social gathering leaders Marit Stiles of the Ontario NDP and Bonnie Crombie for the Liberal Celebration will probably be heading into their first election to tackle Ford who was first elected in 2018.
Veltri stated Crombie is well-known in southern Ontario, so the social gathering could have some work to do in Northern Ontario to point out voters who she is and what she represents.
“Bonnie has been doing a lot of good work in the last little while in making sure that the Ontario Liberals are seen as the only alternative to the Progressive Conservative Party,” he stated. “We are going to be putting forward progressive, but managed and very centrist policies that should attract people to think about the Ontario Liberals again.”
Vaugeois added that Stiles has been doing every thing she will be able to to get out and meet with voters and handle the problems necessary to Northern Ontario, together with freeway security, well being care, inexpensive housing, and homelessness.
She added that she hopes the snap winter election received’t deter Ontarians from getting out to vote, however the frustration of doing so might come again to hang-out Ford.
“I think we need people to recognize the game that is being played right now and make sure they get out and vote regardless of the weather,” she stated.
Election day is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 27, 2025.
