Ford’s request to dissolve provincial parliament approved, triggering snap election

Ontario lieutenant governor has dissolved the legislature, plunging the province into an early election.

Ontario Lt.-Gov. Edith Dumont has dissolved provincial parliament following Doug Ford’s request, triggering early election call on Wednesday.

Here is a look at the latest developments.

6:35 p.m.

Ontario Liberal Party Leader Bonnie Crombie will be in Barrie on Wednesday morning for a press conference on healthcare. Later in the day, she will be canvassing in Markham-Stouffville with Kelly Dunn.

4:30 p.m.

Ontario NDP leader Marit Stiles announces she will launch her bid to be the province’s 27th premier at a campaign event in downtown Toronto on Wednesday morning.

3:50 p.m.

About an hour after his meeting with Dumont, Ford shared he called for an early election to “protect Ontario” as the country enters “unprecedented economic risk” amid looming tariff threats.

He reiterated that he wants a “strong, stable four-year mandate that will outlast the Trump administration.”

“Responding to this challenge will demand extraordinary action: the need to invest tens of billions of dollars in unplanned spending and tough choices about making Ontario’s economy the most competitive place to invest, create jobs and do business,” Ford said.

U.S. President Donald Trump could impose across-the-board 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican goods as early as Saturday. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s Feb. 1 date “still holds.”

3:45 p.m.

Ontario Greens' leader Mike Schreiner is slated to kick off his election campaign with stops in Toronto, Guelph and Kitchener on Wednesday.

Schreiner will start at Queens Park at 10 a.m. before heading west to speak with campaign volunteers and supporters.

Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie has not yet announced how she will be launching her election campaign.

2:45 p.m.

Dumont officially granted Ford’s request to dissolve provincial parliament, paving the way for an early election in Ontario.

Provincial party leaders will start hitting the campaign trail on Wednesday. Elections in Ontario must always be held on the fifth Thursday after the writ drops, which leaves 28 days for the campaign period.

Ontarians will then make their way to the polls on Feb. 27.

Opposition leaders quickly weighed in on the provincial government shutting down for an early election.

Crombie said Ford is “wasting $175 million” for an early election, instead of using that money to “fix” the province’s health care system and tackling the affordability crisis.

“As Premier, I’ll deliver More For You by guaranteeing you’ll have a family doctor, cutting taxes on your paycheque and home heating and building homes you can afford,” Crombie said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Stiles says Ford is playing on the anxieties of Ontarians amid looming tariffs for his “own political gain.”

“People need a premier who will fight like hell for every single job that’s a risk, not run to the polls over a year early,” Stiles said.

“In the coming weeks, we have the power to choose a better future for our province. We have the power to fight back against Donald Trump and turn the page on Doug Ford.”

Parliament will be dissolved as of 4 p.m. Tuesday.

2 p.m.

Ford is visiting Dumont’s office in Queen’s Park to formally request the lieutenant-governor to dissolve provincial parliament.

As he was walking towards her office, he told reporters: “See everyone in Windsor. We are going to protect Ontario.”

1 p.m.

CTV News and CP24 have confirmed that Ford will launch his campaign in Windsor, Ont. on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

12 p.m.

Premier Doug Ford said this morning that his cabinet has approved an economic action plan to respond to possible tariffs south of the border.

“We do have a strong economic action plan which we will be rolling out over the period of the next 28 days. It is all about protecting the people of Ontario in every aspect, in every single sector,” he said.

Ford would not say whether the plan requires legislative approval to implement.

“With the threats we are seeing south of the border, threats of tariffs and economic force, it has never been more important for Ontario and Canada to do everything we can to protect our workers and protect our economy,” Ford told reporters at an unrelated news conference on Tuesday.

“We are entering into a period of unprecedented economic risk and lengthy negotiations against President Trump and with the federal government and other provinces. Responding to this challenge will demand enormous action, including doing everything possible to keep our economy competitive.”

When asked about the upcoming election campaign, Ford reiterated his comments about needing a “strong mandate” from voters to combat Trump’s possible tariffs.

“This is a going to be a battle for the next four years and I want to make sure I have strong mandate to outlast President Trump,” he said.

10 a.m.

In a news release issued Tuesday morning, the province said it is “moving ahead” with previously announced plans to remove bike lanes from three major roadways in Toronto.

“The province has retained an engineering company to complete design work, as it prepares to reinstate vehicle lanes on Bloor Street West, Yonge Street and University Avenue,” the news release read.

8:30 a.m.

Scott Reid, CTV’s political analyst and commentator, said recent polling suggests Ford enjoys a “giant lead” over his competition.

“We are going to have to watch and see whether that plays out. The number one thing to watch for, in my view, if Doug Ford is going to defy expectations and find himself in trouble. We will know right away because he will stumble out of the gate,” Reid told CP24.

“There will be pressure on him. ‘Why are you having this election? It is unnecessary. Why would you spend $175 million on an election you don’t need in order to fight tariffs. Why wouldn’t you spent that $175 million protecting business, workers.’ That’s what the opposition are going to say. Can they tag him with it? Can they slow him down?”

8 a.m.

Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie confirmed she will be running in the riding of Mississauga East–Cooksville.

“As the former mayor of Mississauga, I would be excited to run in any riding in Mississauga. It feel so great to put my name back on the ballot,” Crombie told CP24.

“It is close to home. It is a great riding. I know the people in Mississauga East–Cooksville and I’m so excited to be representing them once again.”