FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 15, 2025
TORONTO, ON – President-elect Donald Trump’s threat of 25 per cent tariffs would level a significant economic blow to our province.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce forecasts that these tariffs would shrink our economy by 2.6 per cent. This will raise costs for every single Ontarian and cut incomes by almost $2,000 a year.
What is Doug Ford doing about it?
Rather than getting Ontario ready to fight back against these tariffs, the Legislature has been closed and his staff and advisors are spending their time preparing for an unnecessary early election that will cost taxpayers $175 million.
“By calling an early election, Doug Ford is telling Ontario workers that saving his job is more important than saving theirs,” said Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie. “As the RCMP investigates his Greenbelt scandal, Ford is abandoning the people of Ontario to avoid accountability and cling to power.”
— Bonnie Crombie, Leader of Ontario’s Liberals
Today, Doug Ford will meet with Canadian premiers at the Council of the Federation. Here are some questions Premier Ford must answer:
- Now that Danielle Smith has met with Donald Trump to discuss tariffs, should she also seek a mandate from Alberta voters and call an early provincial election?
- Will you be encouraging all of your fellow Premiers to call elections of their own to seek a mandate from their voters to address tariffs?
- Do your fellow Premiers support your plan to create the same kind of chaos and disarray in Canada’s largest province as the prime minister has done in Ottawa at this critical moment?
- To which Premier will you relinquish the chair of the Council of the Federation during a campaign period?
- Do your fellow Premiers support you joining them and continuing to participate in international diplomacy on behalf of the country while you are campaigning and politicking for re-election?
- Will you stop lying to the people of Ontario about needing a “mandate,” recall the Legislature and do your job, working with all parties who have publicly stated their support for the government on required stimulus to address tariffs?
Trump’s tariffs should be treated as a threat – not as an excuse to call an illegitimate election. Ontario deserves better than a premier who will abandon his post, rather than stay and fight for you.
— 30 —
For media enquiries contact:
Eric Osborne
Acting Press Secretary, Ontario Liberal Party
Email: [email protected]