Why Trump’s tariff threat dominated Ontario’s election and left Ford’s foes struggling [Video]

If Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford scores a major electoral victory tonight, it will likely vindicate a strategy that centred the election campaign on U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threat while overshadowing other key provincial issues, some analysts say.

“Tariffs and Trump is such a specific, top-of-mind issue,” said Éric Grenier, a polls and elections analyst who writes The Writ newsletter. “For PCs, every poll shows that they’re way ahead on that issue.”

Polls indicate that Ford, whose campaign sold him as the only provincial leader who can protect Ontarians from the threat of U.S. tariffs imposed on Canadian goods, could be heading for an historic third majority win tonight.

Before the election was called, the PCs held 79 seats in the Ontario Legislature, followed by the NDP with 28, the Liberals with nine, Greens with two and six independents. 

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