The Ontario Liberals claim Premier Doug Ford’s two upcoming trips to Washington, DC, to meet with American counterparts undermines Canadian democracy.
Ford announced last week he would call a snap election this coming Wednesday. He has emphasized his intention to continue to lead as premier throughout the campaign — and that means working with President Donald Trump and his administration to curb a possible trade war.
Trump, who is on a mission to deport illegal aliens from the US, accuses Canada and Mexico of weak borders and rampant drug trafficking. The president put Canada on notice during his first day in office on January 20 to expect 25% tariffs on all Canadians goods as of February 1.
Ford is scheduled to visit Washington on February 12 to lead a delegation of Canadian premiers to meet with US lawmakers and again on February 20 for the annual meeting of the National Governors Association.
Ontario Liberal House Leader John Fraser in a letter to the secretary of cabinet, chief electoral officer, and integrity commissioner complained Ford’s trips “would harm trust in our public institutions, and violate a basic principle of our democracy,” according to the Global News.
In light of Ford’s election campaign, it would “no longer [be] appropriate,” wrote Fraser.
“We are deeply concerned that it is the premier’s intention to use government resources and taxpayer funds to advance his own political interests.”
“In the context of an early election, this work would be explicitly partisan in nature.”
In the letter on behalf of the Liberal party, Fraser asked the chief election officer to review the case and “reply publicly as expeditiously as possible.”
“To safeguard our democratic norms and ensure a free and fair election,” wrote Fraser.
Ford earlier said all expenses would be charged to the Progressive Conservative Party and not to taxpayers, while underscoring the importance of him performing his duties as premier and disregarding Ontario legislature guidelines that say the government enters “care-taker” mode once an election is called.
“Every single day, during this election, I’ll still be premier,” Ford told supporters in Brampton on Friday.
“Every single day I’ll be talking to our ministers, we’ll be getting policies out there.”