Dear Editor:
Reports indicate that the Doug Ford government will seek dissolution of the Ontario legislature and proceed to a provincial election. Ford claims he needs a fresh “mandate” to deal with costs attached to tariffs that may be imposed on Canada by the Trump government in the U.S.
An Ontario election at this time is unnecessary and expensive, and risks hurling the province headlong into a storm that already involves federal Liberal leadership and the prospect of a national election. The leaders of both Ontario opposition parties recognize this and have declared that Ford has the “mandate” he needs to deal with what is at hand, and that an election before the ordinary timeline of June 2026 is unnecessary.
An Advertiser reader compiled in her letter to the editor in November (‘Caters to the wealthy,’ Nov. 28, by Burna Wilton) the extraordinary costs attached to the Ford government manoeuvres in several areas including cancelling alternative energy projects (and now Ontario is about to incur major costs involving support of the same alternative sources of energy.)
Fiascoes surrounding the Ontario Science Centre and Ontario Place redevelopment, cancellation of Beer Store contracts, and dismantling bike lanes each involve huge costs. The Highway 413 and Ontario Greenbelt scandals have investigations under way and may result in criminal charges.
The “freebies” not asked for in $200 cheques currently rolling out to citizens, and the waiver of vehicle registration fees will contribute to a projected deficit of $6.6 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year.
In addition there have been cuts and frozen or inadequate funding for services that Ontarians need and rely upon. Colleges and universities, health care, housing, services for high needs citizens in child welfare, the disabled, and others are being asphyxiated.
Few or none of the decisions on those matters arose from the Ford government’s previous election platform, nor from citizen input that might have provided in any way a “mandate.” Yet now Ford asks for a fresh mandate that opposition parties agree is unnecessary.
A mandate dealing with the possible tariff item is no more needed than was a need for a mandate for costs incurred surrounding the COVID-19 response.
Ontarians see through the craven and reckless opportunism involved in this manoeuvre. Stick to your knitting, premier, and help get the province and the country through the hot mess confronting us.
The original timetable for a provincial election in 2026 will suit just fine. At that time citizens can consider a genuine mandate against a background of the whole performance of the Ford government.
Vernon Lediett,
Guelph-Eramosa