Ontario is anticipating an early election because the province prepares for financial uncertainty.
The Ontario Chronicle reported Tuesday that Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative authorities is eyeing a snap provincial election as early as subsequent month (Feb. 27) or March 6.
The anticipated early vote comes as U.S. President Donald Trump acknowledged earlier this week “he thinks” he’ll impose 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico.
Premier Doug Ford has repeatedly acknowledged in latest media briefings he wants a “clear mandate” to take care of the potential expenditure of “tens of billions of dollars” in stimulus funding to offset the financial impression Trump’s tariffs.
Right here’s why Ontario residents must be following the information carefully on Wednesday.
When will Ontario draw up the writs?
In a latest episode of the TVO internet collection, “Nerds on Politics,” host Steve Paikin notes the election marketing campaign begins when the premier advises the lieutenant governor to dissolve the provincial parliament. In doing so, the lieutenant governor takes a writ (a doc) for all 124 ridings in Ontario and indicators all of them.
Whereas we regularly hear the phrase, “drop the writs,” Paikin famous the phrase is extra precisely acknowledged as “draw up the writs.”
Why now?
Peter Graefe, affiliate professor of political science at McMaster College, stated Ford’s intention to safe an early election seems to be motivated by a studying of electoral prospects.
“In particular, the strong performance in recent opinion polls coupled with the division of the opposition vote between the NDP and the Liberals, and the inability of (Liberal leader) Bonnie Crombie to make much of an impression in her first year on the job all make this a favourable time to face the electorate,” Graefe stated.
Why an election have to be known as on Wednesday
Graefe famous the Ontario Election Act, as amended in 2005, states the writ for an election “shall be dated on a Wednesday.”
The method of drawing up the writs launches a 28-day election interval.
Why we vote on a Thursday
The Ontario Election Act additionally stipulates the day for the shut of nominations and the grant of a ballot. The act states, “Polling day shall be the fifth Thursday after the date of the writ.”
The act features a provision for selecting one other date, within the seven days after the fifth Thursday, if the unique date conflicts with a vacation.
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Mike Pearson is a reporter on Metroland’s Digital Content material Crew. Attain him at [email protected].
