Abdelrahman
Doug Ford Secures Re-Election as Ontario Premier Amid Trade Tensions with the U.S.
Doug Ford, the Premier of Ontario, Canada’s largest province, successfully won re-election on Thursday. His campaign concentrated less on traditional domestic topics and instead emphasized who would be best prepared to confront President Trump in the face of a potential trade conflict.
Shortly after the polls closed, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation announced Ford’s victory, projecting that his party, the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, had achieved a governing majority—marking their third such win since 2018.
Upon learning the results, Ford addressed supporters in Toronto, stating, “Donald Trump believes he can undermine us. Let me be clear: Canada won’t instigate a conflict with the U.S., but we are fully prepared to defend ourselves.”
At 60 years old, Ford highlighted strength as a core theme of his campaign, asserting that he would retaliate against any tariffs proposed by Trump on Canadian goods. He even pledged to consider cutting the energy supply that the U.S. imports from Ontario if necessary.
Since initiating this snap election a month prior, Ford has taken time off the campaign trail to travel to Washington, advocating against the implementation of tariffs. Ontario, which is home to approximately 16 million residents—about 40% of Canada’s population—boasts significant industries such as automotive, manufacturing, and technology. The introduction of tariffs could severely impact the province, leading to substantial job losses and economic distress.
