Ontario leader will call election to fight Trump’s threatened tariffs WSOC TV [Video]

TORONTO — (AP) — The leader of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, said Friday that he would call an early election, because he says he needs a mandate to fight U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs.

Premier Doug Ford of the Progressive Conservative Party said that he planned to make the announcement on Wednesday. The move would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, more than a year before the June 2026 fixed election date. Ford already has a large majority government.

“We need a mandate from the people to fight against Donald Trump’s tariffs,” Ford said.

Ford, who is the equivalent of a U.S. state governor, said that Ontario could lose upwards of 500,000 jobs should Trump follow through on his 25% tariff threat.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday that he still plans to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico at that rate starting as soon …