Halfway through Ontario election campaign, some parties still developing platforms [Video]

As Ontario’s snap winter election campaign reaches its halfway point, Progressive Conservatives’ main opponents are still scrambling to pitch themselves to voters, while polls suggest the incumbents maintain a significant lead.

Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford called the early vote for Feb. 27, more than a year before the next fixed election date, in what some observers say was a strategic move intended to catch his rivals at a disadvantage.

Ford has said his government needs an even bigger mandate from Ontarians in the face of looming tariffs and four years of U.S. President Donald Trump.

But other party leaders have accused Ford of calling the snap election for his own benefit, calling it unnecessary and a waste of money.

Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie acknowledged last week that figuring out when an election might come was difficult.

“He was musing about election calls. We didn’t know when the timing would …