Ontario Premier Doug Ford is set to call a snap election next week, and as political parties gear up, Ottawa voters say there are a range of issues that are top of mind, including the high cost of living and the threat of tariffs.
Ford says he’s calling the election one year early, pointing to U.S. president Donald Trump’s threat to implement 25 per cent tariffs on all Canadian goods as a justification.
That’s top of mind for those like Rod Capern, who says he wants to see someone who will look out for Ontario’s interests.
“I think we need a strong leader to stand up to Mr. Trump and bring reality to him that we are a strong economy, that will be a big dent out of America’s economy at the same time,” he said.
East end resident Dominic Cloutier said during a grocery run that he’s looking for parties to address the high cost of living and food prices.
“It just hurts us being a family and grandparents,” he said. “It just hurts us so bad that we have to spend all this money and nothing. We’re getting no help at all.”
Andrew Anderson agrees, he says, for the sake of the next generation.
“Focus on our children. I feel life is harder for them now than it was for us,” he said.
Vanessa Lamar says it’s important for her to hear what the parties will do for health care.
“Our system needs to be fixed. It needs to be redone.”
Motaniel Ngina says transportation is a major issue for him.
“Getting more funds and making sure that the LRT is running consistently. Everything is smooth. That’s one of the biggest things,” he said.
Political observers like Peter Woolstencroft, a retired professor from the University of Waterloo, say voters should expect the tariffs to be what Ford will focus on.
“Doug Ford has a clear message, which is ‘I’m Captain Canada. I’ve gone down to the States, I’ve confronted Donald Trump and the Republicans, and I’m a leader,‘” he said
When it comes to funding for local issues like transit, Woolstencroft says these could be pushed aside in favour of dealing with the U.S. - Canada relationship.
“We will find very little evidence that local issues mattered. This is a provincial election, to determine the future course of the government of Ontario, and local concerns will disappear,” he said.
Geneviève Tellier, a professor in the political studies department at the University of Ottawa, agrees that Ford will focus on the issue of tariffs when campaigning but says he could look to local projects to fund the economy.
“If we’re losing jobs in another sector, maybe the government will say they will push those projects sooner so that it will create jobs,” she said.
The premier is expected to call the election on Wednesday and Ontario voters would head to the polls on Feb. 27.
