- Doug Ford wins a third term as Ontario’s premier amid US-Canada trade tensions.
- Trump confirms 25% tariffs on Canadian imports will take effect on March 4.
- Canadian officials head to Washington for last-minute talks to prevent tariffs.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative (PC) Party have secured a third consecutive legislative majority in an election dominated by trade tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ford’s victory on Thursday came after he campaigned for what he called the “largest mandate in Ontario history” to protect Canada’s most populous province from the economic impact of Trump’s proposed tariffs.
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The PC Party won at least 74 seats in the 124-member Legislative Assembly of Ontario, with six more still undecided as of Thursday night, according to a tally by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
Ford, who frequently wore a “Canada is Not for Sale” hat and branded himself as “Captain Canada” during his campaign, called the election more than a year early. He argued that a stronger mandate was necessary to handle four years of economic uncertainty under Trump.
Throughout his campaign, Ford made two visits to Washington, D.C., and appeared on U.S. networks like Fox News and CNN to advocate against Trump’s tariffs.
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Trump had agreed to delay his proposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports for 30 days while border security negotiations continued. However, on Thursday, he confirmed the levies would take effect on March 4 unless a deal was reached.
Canadian and Mexican officials were set to meet Trump administration representatives in Washington on Thursday and Friday in a last-minute effort to prevent the tariffs, which could disrupt North America’s deeply integrated economy.
