‘Always have to be prepared’: Window for early Ontario election narrows

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially ruled out an election for this year but remains non-committal on whether he might call an early election in 2025.

During a Tuesday morning event in Brampton, Ontario, Ford emphasized his focus on fulfilling the current mandate and categorically dismissed the idea of holding an election before the end of 2024.

"We aren’t having an election this year, so we’re going to make sure that we focus on what the people of Ontario need," Ford stated. "And that’s good paying jobs, making sure we have good health care, good education, good infrastructure, and that’s what we’re going to continue doing."

However, when asked about the possibility of a 2025 election, Ford avoided giving a direct answer and instead reiterated his commitment to delivering on the priorities of Ontarians.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Conservative Party is in the process of asking sitting ministers and MPPs to confirm by December whether they plan to run again. This process, which usually occurs six months to a year before an election, has raised some speculation about the timing of the next provincial election.

"You always have to be prepared, that’s what it comes down to," Ford said. "No matter which way you look at it, we aren’t too far from an election, whether it’s next year or the following year."

Some of Ford’s 2022 election winners have already stepped down. Former Red Tape Reduction Minister Parm Gill left to pursue a federal run, and former Education and Energy Minister Todd Smith recently resigned to take a private-sector energy job.

Others, like Energy Minister Stephen Lecce, Agriculture Minister Rob Flack, and Associate Minister of Auto Theft and Bail Reform Graham McGregor, have confirmed their intention to run again. Some expect to be nominated by the party in the fall.

Election rumors gained traction in late May when Ford repeatedly declined to rule out an early election, prompting opposition parties, including the NDP and Liberals, to hasten their nomination processes and increase campaign activities across the province.

The Ontario Liberals have nominated their sitting caucus members to run again and have started nominating candidates for seats they don’t currently hold. The NDP has scheduled nomination meetings for many of its members throughout September.

The Progressive Conservatives held their annual campaign event alongside Ford Fest in Milton in August, a riding they recently retained in a closely contested byelection that the Liberals had aimed to win.

Additionally, Ford is set to deliver on a campaign promise from the 2018 election by allowing corner stores to sell beer and wine, which will take effect on Thursday.

The next provincial election is currently scheduled for June 4, 2026.