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When Premier of Ontario Doug Ford When he refused to rule out a snap election at a press conference in late May, his words began to echo through the empty corridors of Queen’s Park.
Staffers who draft laws and regulations wonder if their work will be published, while MLAs begin to think about the battles they may soon face.
The opposition leader also responded. Ontario New Democratic Party and Ontario Liberal Party All political parties have stepped up their pace and are preparing to run for government.
“We’re definitely hearing the same rumors that everyone else is hearing — that the premier wants to call an early election,” Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles told Global News.
“He decided to hold an election before the federal election, so I think we can all count on that. I have directed my team to be ready for the fall (2024) election.”
Stiles said her party is in a “10-week sprint” to be ready to run when the election comes around. That means setting dates as quickly as possible, nominating candidates in Ontario’s 124 ridings, starting with current MLAs, and recruiting newcomers to the race.
The Ontario Liberals, led by Bonnie Crombie, are in the same boat.
The party has Nominate a current member of parliament Running again for the Liberal Party at the next election, Crombie promised that “very soon” non-caucus members would start receiving nominations.
“I have a team of people out knocking on doors – this party is stepping up its efforts and we will be ready whenever the elections are held,” she said.
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The Ford government and the Progressive Conservatives have yet to give further hints about the timing of an early election, but the party has been watching the public’s attitude towards the issue.
In early July, Ford said a snap election “is probably the last thing I want to think about right now. We’ll see when we get closer to the election.”
At the start of the summer, Campaign Research, the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party’s preferred polling firm, sent out a survey to voters asking them whether they supported an early election at the provincial or federal level.
“Recent news reports suggest that Ontario Premier Doug Ford may call an early election rather than waiting until June 2026,” the poll found. According to Global News.
The poll asked: “Do you agree that Doug Ford should call a general election in 2025, rather than waiting until June 2026?”
The campaign study then asks “whether Doug Ford should call an early election in early 2025” or whether the party should remain in power for the full term.
As Ontario’s two largest opposition parties prepare candidates and weigh policies for a possible early election, funding questions remain.
Data from Elections Ontario shows Ford’s Progressive Conservatives are far outstripping their rivals in terms of fundraising, having managed to raise $3.4 million so far this year, more than double the total raised by the Liberals, NDP and Greens.
A poll in late June showed Abacus Data also shows Ford continues to maintain a strong lead with 41 per cent support among loyal Ontario voters, compared to 25 per cent for the Ontario Liberals and 22 per cent for the NDP.
Both Stiles and Crombie said Ford’s financial strength does not alarm them.
Ms Styles said her party’s recent fundraising had broken records from previous months and was “looking good”. She said money wasn’t the only thing that went into winning an election.
“We’re going to continue to raise money, but we also have to get down to the ground and knock on doors,” Stiles said.
As summer winds down, Crombie and her Ontario Liberal Party plan to hit radio stations “soon” with a new ad to boost hope.
“We are the government in waiting,” Crombie said, stressing that the new ads will introduce her to the province and tell her story.
“We have a lot of great ideas. I have a really great team that’s growing every day. I think people need to get to know me and understand who I am and what I stand for and that I’m a centrist.”
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
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