Ontario Premier Doug Ford says his cabinet has discussed an "economic action plan" to respond to tariffs from the United States and that it will be announced throughout an election campaign.
Ford has said he is calling the snap election starting Wednesday because he needs a new mandate to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump, including his threat of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods, possibly starting Feb. 1.
Officials say the economic action plan has not yet been approved by cabinet and therefore won't be implemented during the campaign — and Ford instead suggests it will be rolled out as announcements.
Ford is set to meet with Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont to request the dissolution of provincial parliament today and trigger an early election for Feb. 27.
Opposition leaders have said calling an election more than a year early is a waste of time and money and the justification of needing a mandate to deal with Trump is just an excuse to capitalize on good polling.
Ford says he plans to act in his capacity as premier, including visiting Washington, D.C., in February with a group of other premiers, while also campaigning as leader of the Progressive Conservatives.
Almost immediately after Ford visits Dumont, he is set to participate in a virtual Council of the Federation call with the other premiers.
