Ontario's political leaders are navigating a complex landscape with looming U.S. tariffs and the need to address local concerns. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie emphasizes transit safety with platform barriers and increased security, while Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford proposes a $22 billion infrastructure stimulus plan to counter potential trade war impacts. NDP Leader Marit Stiles focuses on protecting Ontario workers, particularly in the auto sector, from the threat of tariffs.
Two of Ontario\u2019s main party leaders focused their attention south of the border Friday with American tariffs possibly hours away, while a third set her sights on shoring up local votes with transit pledges. Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie pledged to install platform barriers at all Toronto subway stations, increase crisis intervention teams and hire more constables for transit services across the province.
Meanwhile, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford said if re-elected, he will spend $22 billion to build infrastructure as part of a stimulus package in the face of a possible trade war with the United States. \U.S. President Donald Trump said he will impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods on Saturday. His ongoing threats have had NDP Leader Marit Stiles positioning herself as the person who will protect Ontario workers, particularly those in the auto sector. Outside a busy subway station in Toronto\u2019s east end on Friday, Crombie detailed part of her plan to get more people on transit with the confidence they\u2019ll be safe. \\u201cWe want people to ride public transit and I want to make it as accessible and safe as possible,\u201d Crombie said. If her party wins the snap election Ford called earlier this week, Crombie said she will hire 300 special constables for transit operations in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area. A Crombie government would also invest in more security cameras and safety equipment. Crombie did not release the cost of the proposed plan she would enact should she become premier, but said it will come during the campaign. It will not be cheap. Subway platform barriers at all stations in Toronto would cost $4.1 billion, the Toronto Transit Commission\u2019s latest capital budget plan said. Experts say platform barriers in cities around the world have reduced the vast majority of injuries and death on the tracks. They are particularly helpful for reducing suicides. There have been 816 suicides on Toronto\u2019s subway system since 1954, the TTC said, and another 915 people have attempted suicide over that time. In 2023, the last full year of data available, 11 people died by suicide and another 33 people attempted suicide, the TTC said. Toronto Public Health recommended the platform barrier system in 2014 in a larger report on suicide prevention. The TTC has also said it would save lives. The issue became prominent in 2018 after a 56-year-old man pushed a 73-year-old man onto the tracks in front of a moving train at Toronto\u2019s busy Bloor-Yonge Station. The man pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Then-mayor John Tory agreed that barriers would save lives, but did not know where the money would come from to install them. At the time, the TTC estimated it would cost over $1 billion to install barriers on every platform. When asked by a reporter Friday about the billions that system would now cost, Crombie seemed surprised.\Ford did not commit to building platform barriers, but defended his government\u2019s transit investments over his past two terms. \u201cWe\u2019re going to continue spending money on building transit, getting people out of the cars, getting them into transit,\u201d Ford said at a campaign stop in Niagara Falls, Ont.On a possible trade war with the U.S. that could hit full force Saturday, Ford outlined part of his \u201ceconomic action plan.\u201d The package contains $15 billion for capital projects, including a widening of the Queen Elizabeth Way in southwestern Ontario, and $5 billion for the province\u2019s infrastructure bank to invest in housing and other projects. The package would go forward regardless of Trump\u2019s actions and will prioritize \u201cshovel-ready\u201d projects. \u201cThese are important investments in infrastructure,\u201d Ford said. \u201cJust as important, they\u2019re important investments in jobs, their paycheques, their confidence, and their peace of mind for tens of thousands of families.\u201d\\u201cThe NDP will protect workers from these painful tariffs, and we will fight back against Trump\u2019s threats,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to defend the auto sector and we\u2019re going to defend the progress that you all made on electric vehicles every second of every day.\u201d On Thursday, Stiles was less definitive in her support of two large EV battery production deals signed by the provincial and federal governments. Stellantis and Volkswagen signed incentive-laden deals to set up shop in Windsor and St. Thomas, Ont., respectively. \u201cWe\u2019re going to take care of people through actions that are going to secure you and your family, like income protection,\u201d Stiles said. The budget for the Feb. 27 snap election is $189 millio
Ontario Election Doug Ford Bonnie Crombie Marit Stiles US Tariffs Infrastructure Transit Auto Industry
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ontario Election Campaign Day 2: Opposition Leaders Slam Unnecessary ElectionGlobal News reports on the second day of Ontario's election campaign, highlighting opposition leaders' focus on the election's unnecessary nature. The report details the schedules of Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, including their planned meetings and announcements across various Ontario cities.
Read more »
Northern Ontario Residents Demand Health Care Focus in Upcoming ElectionA virtual town hall hosted by the Algoma-Manitoulin Ontario NDP riding association highlighted the urgent need for improved healthcare in northern Ontario. Participants stressed that the unmet healthcare needs of residents should be a top priority for voters in the upcoming provincial election.
Read more »
Bell Let’s Talk Day: Focus on youth mental health, eastern Ontario hubs respondingWednesday marks the 15th anniversary of Bell Let’s Talk Day, and the spotlight this year is on the growing youth mental health crisis in Canada.
Read more »
Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Eyes Europe as US Investors Focus InwardOntario Teachers' Pension Plan CEO Jo Taylor sees opportunity in European markets as other investors remain concentrated in the US. The $255.8 billion fund is seeking new avenues to protect capital and is exploring 'active private markets' such as infrastructure, private equity, and credit.
Read more »
Ontario Election Campaign Kicks Off with Focus on Family Doctors, Tariffs and Early VoteThe first day of the Ontario election campaign was dominated by discussions surrounding family doctors, the impact of tariffs, and Doug Ford's decision to call an early election. Candidates from various parties engaged in debates and rallies across the province, highlighting these key issues.
Read more »
Northern Ontario's Homelessness Crisis Worsening at Four Times the Rate of Southern OntarioA new report, Municipalities Under Pressure, reveals that homelessness in Northern Ontario is growing at an alarming rate, four times faster than in Southern Ontario. The report calls for $11 billion in new funding to end chronic homelessness by 2035, highlighting the urgent need for increased support and resources in the region.
Read more »