TORONTO – Advance voting for the provincial elections in Ontario from today: polling stations will be open until Saturday 22 February, from 10am to 8pm. Voters can check where the nearest polling station is by entering their postal code or searching for their electoral district via the Elections Ontario website (clicking here) or, if they decide to vote on Election Day, (i.e. Thursday 27 February / the polls will be open from 9am to 9pm), they can inquire at their local elections office until 6pm on 26 February, the day before (to find out which documents are needed to vote, in advance or on the election day, click here). 

Ontarians can also mail in their ballots, but they must request it by Friday (tomorrow) at 6pm so they can receive their voting kit by post in time: written ballots must be submitted by 6pm on Election Day in order to be counted. Those who cannot go to either their polling station or the local elections office, and who need assistance in voting, can request a home visit, which must be carried out by February 26 at 6pm. Once the visit is approved, two election officials will deliver an election kit to the home to assist in voting. All detailed information relating to these services can be found on the website www.elections.on.ca

Meanwhile, also today the leaders (and premier candidates) of Ontario’s main parties held meetings and rallies to present their proposals to the voters. The conservative Doug Ford, who received the support of several unions, today in Milton spoke about US tariffs again, declaring that “American President Donald Trump underestimates the resilience of the people of Canada. We will make our economy even stronger, breaking down the country’s internal trade barriers, building new pipelines and infrastructure and protecting our ‘True North’, strong and free”, he said. Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, today in Toronto, addressed the issue of housing in recent days, promising that the Ontario Liberals will eliminate excessive development charges and will also eliminate the land transfer tax. The leader of the NDP, Marit Stiles, who was in Toronto and Brampton today, insisted again on healthcare, assuring that with the NDP in power in Ontario every citizen of the province will have a family doctor. Finally, the leader of the Green Party, Mike Schreiner, from Kitchener spoke of “the need to seriously address the housing crisis” that is bringing many families to their knees, also announcing a “tax break” for those who do not have particularly high incomes.

Photo: Elections Ontario