Party leaders in Ontario kicked off their election campaigns on Wednesday, setting the stage for a heated race. Doug Ford, the Progressive Conservative leader, emphasized his role as protector against American tariffs, mentioning only Donald Trump as an opponent outside his party. Meanwhile, NDP leader Marit Stiles focused her attacks on both Ford and Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, attempting to position the NDP as the alternative to Ford's conservative policies.
As party leaders launched their election campaigns Wednesday, NDP leader Marit Stiles was ready with lengthy criticisms of her opponents on the ballot, while the only politician Doug Ford mentioned outside his party was U.S. President Donald Trump.Photo illustration featuring PC Party of Ontario Leader Doug Ford , Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Ontario Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.
" not really running against Marit Stiles or Bonnie Crombie. He's running against Donald Trump," said Lydia Miljan, head of the political science department at the University of Windsor. "He's filling the vacuum left by the lack of leadership on the federal level. So he knows that that's his winning hand."WATCH | Why Ford may want this election now:On Tuesday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford officially triggered an early provincial election set for Feb. 27.
She also pitched herself as a strong deal maker after Ford said last week it would be a "disaster" to have Stiles or Crombie negotiate with Trump. During her prepared remarks at the NDP campaign launch in Toronto's Regent Park neighbourhood, Stiles said she liked some of the things past Liberal governments had done in Ontario.
"That way she can sort of stake out as much territory as possible on the left of the political spectrum," Miljan said. "She wants to pull votes away from the Liberals."Crombie kept her focus on Ford in prepared remarks she delivered at her campaign launch in Barrie, remarks that focused on healthcare issues over American tariff threats.
ONTARIO ELECTION FORD STILES CROMBIE TARIFFS NDP LIBERALS
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