Snap Ontario election call kicks parties planning into high gear [Video]

Ontario’s political parties have been preparing for months for the possibility of an early election, but next week’s snap election call has pushed planning to a fever pitch.

Premier Doug Ford has announced that he will meet with the lieutenant-governor on Tuesday to trigger an election campaign beginning Wednesday, for a vote on Feb. 27.

He said he needs a new mandate, with the biggest majority in provincial history, in order to represent Ontario’s interests amid threatened tariffs.

But opposition parties accuse Ford of opportunism and trying to capitalize on favourable polling.

Regardless of the reason, it’s happening, and the parties are all now in a flurry of nominating candidates, finalizing platforms, making ad buys, and training volunteers.

Liberal campaign co-director Genevieve Tomney says the party has been getting ready for months and putting an emphasis on fundraising so they would be ready whenever an election was called.

“Are we …