TORONTO – A 40 billion dollars plan, plus the proposal to eliminate the minimum retail price of liquor: this is the “platform” of Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives, presented today by the outgoing premier of Ontario.

It is unclear where a re-elected government will find the money, but Ford assured: “We have been very fiscally responsible in recent years. We are prudent fiscal managers with taxpayers’ money. Not only have we not increased taxes, but we have reduced the cost of paying down the debt of previous governments…”.

Furthermore, according to him, economic growth will help offset some of the spending.

At the same time, however, he admitted that if the tariffs threatened by the United States are implemented, Ontario will not be able to balance its budget. Precisely for this reason, Ford’s plan includes billions of dollars of planned spending to respond to Us tariffs: in addition to a $5 billion “Protect Ontario” account, there are $10 billion dollars to support employers through a tax deferral, up to $3 billion more in payroll and premium relief, up to $40 million for municipalities affected by the tariffs and up to $120 million to increase the discount on wholesale alcohol for bars and restaurants. And, speaking of alcohol, there is also – we said at the beginning – the proposal to eliminate the minimum price for alcohol: price that, in this case, will inevitably fall.

Also today, Doug Ford got the endorsement of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 46 (IUPAT DC46), which represents more than 8,000 members working in various trades across Ontario, including painters, drywall finishers, glass and metal technicians, automatic door technicians, and “Hazmat” operators. He had the endorsement of the Brick and Allied Craft Union too.

And the other candidates? The Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie was in Ottawa and spoke again about healthcare: “Our hospitals are overflowing and underfunded, the waiting times are enormous – she said -: all hospitals must be expanded and developed”. Healthcare is also in the foreground for Marit Stiles, leader of the NDP: “You can be sure that our government will strengthen and protect it. As premier – she said – I’ll recruit 3.5K doctors. Cut red tape. Expand health care in the North. Clear the path for 13K internationally trained doctors, and more”. Mike Schreiner, leader of the Greens, reiterated that his party “will adequately fund rural and local hospitals, support health workers and ensure that all citizens have a doctor”.

Meanwhile, today Elections Ontario released the numbers of last weekend’s advance voting: according to Elections Ontario, 678,789 voters went to the polls, 6.14% of eligible voters, compared to 9.92% (1,066,545 people) in 2022, when however early voting lasted ten days compared to three this time. Election Day is on February 27, Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

In the pics above: Doug Ford with delegations from IUPAT DC46 and Brick and Allied Craft Union (photo from Twitter X – – @fordnation)