Doug Ford Secures Ontario Election Victory, Pledging Unity Against Trump’s Tariffs

• Feb 28, 2025

Progressive Conservative Premier Wins Third Term, Promises to Work Across Party Lines to Defend Canada from U.S. Trade Threats

Doug Ford has secured re-election as premier of Ontario, leading his Progressive Conservative party to a decisive victory and earning a rare third term in Canada’s most populous province.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) projected a sweeping win for Ford’s party, which captured 43% of the vote. Ford, who positioned his campaign around resisting U.S. trade pressures, emphasized unity in the face of economic threats posed by Donald Trump.

“As we confront the challenge of Trump’s tariffs, I am committed to working with every level of government and every political party. Defending Canada will require a united Team Ontario,” Ford declared in his victory speech. Trump has proposed imposing 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods, a move that could have significant consequences for Ontario’s export-driven economy.

Ford called the election over a year ahead of schedule in an effort to strengthen his mandate against Trump’s trade policies, despite already holding a majority in the legislature. The decision was a strategic gamble to reinforce his leadership, according to Laura Stephenson, a political science professor at Western University.

Opposition parties struggled to gain traction during the campaign, as efforts to highlight scandals and policy challenges affecting the province failed to sway voters. Ontario, home to 35% of Canada’s population, faces mounting healthcare concerns, with approximately 2.5 million residents lacking a primary care provider—an increase from 1.8 million in 2020.

Unusually held in winter, the election took place amid lingering snowstorms, which may have contributed to low voter turnout. As of 10 p.m. local time, Elections Ontario reported turnout at just 42.62%. Meanwhile, Trump’s influence on Canadian politics remains profound, with the U.S. president even suggesting economic leverage could push Canada towards becoming America’s 51st state. A Canadian federal election is also expected later this year.

Ford embraced nationalist messaging throughout his campaign, frequently sporting a "Canada is not for sale" hat and traveling to Washington, D.C., twice to argue against U.S. tariffs.

The Ontario election results may carry implications for Canada’s federal political landscape, according to Semra Sevi, a political scientist at the University of Toronto. “These results highlight how external factors—such as Trump’s tariffs—can strongly influence voter sentiment and political dynamics,” Sevi noted, pointing to a “recent resurgence of the federal Liberals after a period of decline.”

With reporting from Reuters.