Ontario Premier Doug Ford reportedly plans to visit Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont Tuesday afternoon to request the dissolution of provincial parliament, triggering a snap election some 15 months early.
The early election will be scheduled for February 27, leaving Ontario parties less than a month to campaign.
Ford, however, has expressed confidence in an even greater mandate after this election, given the imminent 25% tariff threat on all Canadian goods proposed by President Donald Trump.
The premier has said he will do everything within his government’s means to fight back against the tariffs, but ideally the two nations can work together.
Given the ineptness of the federal government at the moment, as Justin Trudeau remains as a placeholder prime minister while the Liberals have a leadership contest, Ford and other premiers, namely Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have taken matters into their own hands to work directly with US officials and bypass Ottawa.
Ford has two trips to Washington planned this month, despite the fact he will be in the middle of an election campaign. There he will meet with his American counterparts, leading a delegation of Canadian premiers.
When the lieutenant-governor approves Ford’s request this afternoon, it will effectively dissolve the legislature’s 43rd parliament and all parties will enter campaign mode.
Ford will run against Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.
The premier following his meeting with Dumont is scheduled to meet with the other premiers over a virtual call. The Council of the Federation (Canada’s premiers), of which Doug is the chair, will head to Washington on February 12.