Ontario

Author: Mark Winfield, Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has justified his early election call on the need to respond to United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.

While the threat of tariffs on all Canadian imports has been paused — although Trump has since slapped levies on all steel and aluminum imports into the U.S. — Ontario voters need to reflect more than ever on the province’s circumstances and the performance of its government as they prepare to head to the polls next week.

The Ford government’s approach to the environment and climate change, as well as its policies on a range of other issues like housing, health care and education, is best understood in the context of its overall “market populist” approach to governance.

Several defining features of this model have emerged over the past six and a half years under Ford’s rule.

Some interesting data prior to the debate.

There's a significant room of undecided voters.

OLP is making gains.

Ford's Trump stunt is wearing off.

The tariffs aren't nearly a top issue.

If the OLP trend continues and ONDP-leaning voters go for Crombie's plea to vote OLP, Ford might get knocked down to a minority.

Watching how the numbers move post-debate and will post again.

Hey all,

I got back from a few days out of town and my hot water wasn't working.

The ventilation was blocked by over 4 feet of snow that drifted alongside my house completely blocking the exhaust vent.

Make sure to do a walkaround and check your laundry and exhaust vents!

The main party leaders square off at North Bay's Canadore College