Ontario Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford is forecast to win a majority government in the Ontario election Thursday night.
Results continue to come in, though the PCs have 81 seats, more than needed to form his third majority government.
Marit Stiles and the NDP have managed to hold onto their status as official opposition, with 25 seats so far, Bonnie Crombie's Liberals have 13 and Mike Schreiner’s Greens have two seats.
"Democracy only works if people are willing to step up, and step forward. Our province is stronger because of your decision to do so," Ford told his supporters.
"During my time in office, I hope I've proven, I will work with anyone, I will work with everyone to get things done."
"Now as we stare down the threat of Donald Trump's tariffs, I will continue to do just that. I will work with every level of government and every political stripe. Because fighting back against Donald Trump, standing up for Canada, it will take a whole Team Ontario effort. It will take a full Team Canada effort."
Ford's Liberal opponent meanwhile appears to have lost her own seat in the riding of In Mississauga East—Cooksville, where PC candidate Silvia Gualtieri has 16,411 seats to Crombie's 15,000.
Crombie delivered her concession speech, thanking her supporters and celebrating the Liberals securing enough seats to obtain official party status.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau released a statement as the news broke of Ford's triumph. He "congratulated" Ford and his party "on their re-election" and urged the premier to "work together" with the federal Liberals to "work together to defend Canadian interests, protect workers and businesses, and grow our economy."
Ford called the winter snap election, the first February provincial vote since 1883, on January 28 as Canada was facing imminent 25% tariff threats from President Donald Trump. At the time, the tariffs were set to go in place February 4. Trump gave a brief reprieve until March 4, a date which may be delayed another month.
Ontarians weren't expecting another election until spring 2026. Ford when announcing the election said he wanted an even stronger mandate than his current majority to take on Trump in a tariff war.
Ford said he wanted to “fight back” against the US president, and has since led a delegation of premiers to Washington to negotiate with American officials.
Voter turnout was only about 27%. Concerns were expressed leading up to the election the hefty snowfall experienced in southern Ontario the week before people went to the polls. Ontario hasn't had a winter election since since 1981.
One of Ford’s campaign promises is to build a tunnel under Hwy 401, Toronto's busiest highway, and to keep repeat offenders locked up.
“I believe they should be thrown in jail,” said Ford of repeat violent offenders, adding “there's consequences when you start terrorizing neighborhoods.”
He also committed to build housing on Ontario’s Greenbelt, and both cut taxes and increase wages of medical professionals simultaneously, without explaining how that would look on the books.
“I don’t believe in taxing people, and I’ll never take money out of your pockets,” said Ford, during a leaders debate.
Crombie during that debate called Ford’s oversight of Ontario’s healthcare system was a “visible failure,” and alleged 11,000 people in the province have “died waiting for healthcare.”
Ford in October appointed former Liberal MP Jane Philpott to lead a primary care action team to overhaul the system. Philpott and former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould now notoriously spoke out against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for his involvement in covering up for SNC-Lavalin in 2019.