(Toronto) Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Monday he needs a new term to deal with Donald Trump’s four-year presidency in the United States.
Posted at 3:52 p.m.
Allison Jones and Liam Casey
The Canadian Press
The Progressive Conservative leader led his troops to victory in June 2018, then again in June 2022. The next election in Ontario is therefore scheduled for June 2026.
But in recent months, Mr. Ford has hinted that he might call a general election before then. He gave one of his clearest signals yet on Monday that an early election would be a priority in Ontario.
In his inauguration speech Monday, Mr. Trump did not specifically mention Canada or his threat to impose 25% tariffs. But an official said the president would direct federal agencies to examine trade, including alleged “unfair” trade and currency practices by Canada, Mexico and China.
-Mr. Trump on Monday also stressed the need to boost U.S. manufacturing, particularly the building of more vehicles. Premier Ford therefore sees this as a sign that President Trump will target Ontario and its important auto sector, whether tomorrow or in a month.
Mr. Ford said last week that he would need a new mandate for his government to spend tens of billions of dollars to help Ontarians deal with the impacts of U.S. tariffs.
He now says he will need a “clear mandate from the people of Ontario to fight these tariffs.”
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