Doug Ford crushes the competition

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The most important story to come back out of the Ontario election thus far is the shortcoming of the opposition events to make any significant positive aspects in opposition to Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives.

Ford called a snap election in hopes of successful a “robust mandate” to guard the province from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Marit Stiles’ NDP, Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals and Mike Schreiner’s Greens have all tried repeatedly to shift Ford’s election narrative, however have failed miserably so far.

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A brand new Postmedia/Leger poll carried out from Feb. 7-9 confirms this evaluation. In keeping with the survey, the PCs are out in entrance with 47 per cent help, adopted by the Liberals (26 per cent), NDP (17 per cent), Greens (six per cent) and the New Blue Celebration (two per cent).

The PCs are main in 4 out of 5 provincial areas, in line with Nanos Research. The one exception is Toronto, the place the Liberals have eked out a small lead (38.5 per cent to 37.6 per cent). However in all honesty, it doesn’t make a distinction if the PCs lose Toronto, because it hasn’t been a major issue within the occasion’s electoral fortunes in a long time.

Certain, issues may change earlier than election day on Feb. 27, nevertheless it appears extremely unlikely that Ontario’s political barometer will immediately flip to the left.

Ford’s election technique appeared moderately unwise at the beginning of the marketing campaign. The favored premier was in the course of his second straight majority authorities. Within the 2022 election, he obtained one of many largest mandates in Ontario history.

Why would he take a calculated danger to spend an estimated $189 million to return to the voters early to allow them to rally behind his plan to sort out Trump’s tariffs? Properly, it seems his roll of the cube is paying off.

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Leger discovered that 59 per cent of Ontarians and 79 per cent of PC voters “approve of Premier Ford’s response to President Trump’s remarks on commerce tariffs and his suggestion that Canada ought to turn into the 51st state.” Furthermore, the ballot revealed that “Ontarians’ impression of Doug Ford has improved by 19 per cent for the reason that begin of the election, a three-point improve since final week.”

If this development continues, Ford may obtain a higher share of the favored vote than the did within the final two elections. (He gained 40.5 per cent in 2018 and 40.8 per cent in 2022). His occasion may additionally win greater than the 79 seats it had when the Ontario legislature was dissolved, and will presumably overtake former Liberal Premier David Peterson’s record-setting 95 seats in 1987.

How has Ford achieved this? He’s efficiently defended Canada’s pursuits on this tariff conflict, each at residence and on American tv networks. He’s on board with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tariff-for-tariff method and would consider chopping vitality exports to the US, saying that it’s a “software that now we have in our toolbox,” however has constantly identified that he would strongly want to keep away from this.

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He additionally went to Washington this week and appeared earlier than the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the place he praised Trump as “top-of-the-line negotiators on the earth,” but in addition emphasizing that Canada and the U.S. are “stronger collectively.”

And though Ford’s major emphasis is on tariffs, this doesn’t imply he’s utterly ignored different points affecting Ontario voters. His PC authorities earmarked $1.8 billion earlier than the election to attach Ontarians with native major care suppliers. He’s promised a $2-billion fund that can pay for water and wastewater situated close to new housing initiatives.

Tolls can be faraway from Freeway 407’s public parts, and a brand new expressway can be tunnelled underneath Freeway 401. The 5.7 cent per litre reduce to the provincial gasoline tax will turn into everlasting.

The opposition events have additionally launched an assortment of marketing campaign guarantees. Crombie proposed eliminating the provincial land switch tax for first-time residence consumers and eradicating middle-class housing growth expenses, for instance. Stiles would herald 3,500 new docs, rent 15,000 nurses and purchase again the personal portion of Freeway 407.

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But most of those guarantees haven’t resonated with the citizens, and few Ontarians are in all probability even conscious of what these leaders have really advised.

In an actual signal of desperation, Crombie really challenged Ford to compete in opposition to her within the gymnasium. “I’m completely satisfied to problem him any time on his turf or on mine,” she said at a marketing campaign cease on Monday. “My turf’s the gymnasium, so if he desires to come back at me and we’ll have a contest within the gymnasium and possibly we’ll do push-ups. What do you assume?”

Ford and his group, like top Ontarians, thought it was an extremely silly stunt. It confirmed that Crombie was “not a critical chief,” the PC occasion famous. If that is one of the best she will give you when she’s down within the polls, her political goose is cooked.

Not that Stiles and Schreiner are any higher. Their political goose has been badly burnt in each circumstances, and Ford will undoubtedly purpose to extend the oven temperature even additional within the marketing campaign’s remaining two weeks.

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