Not sure who to vote for in the Ontario election? This guide will help you decide

Not sure who to vote for in the Ontario election? This guide will help you decide.
Get to know the candidates, review the platforms or see how the parties will help your finances.

Ontario's party executives
You've been shoveling snow and listening to political ads for weeks this cold winter, but you've just realized that Election Day is this Thursday.
If you're having trouble choosing your vote, this article will help you. And if you're one of our regular readers paying attention to this winter election, this article is perfect for sending to your less-than-informed friends. In the last election, turnout was just 43 per cent, so every share counts.

Who are the party executives?
PC Party Leader Doug Ford called a snap election, sending us to the polls a year earlier than expected. He says his party needs a stronger credibility to counter the threat of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump, even though the party has held the majority in Ontario’s parliament for seven years.

Many voters are now familiar with Doug Ford — for many, it’s a love-it-or-hate-it thing — and he has spent much of the campaign defending his big ideas (including a multibillion-dollar tunnel under Highway 401 in the GTA) and his record.

NDP Leader Marit Stiles is the official opposition, focusing more on spending issues.
Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie is trying to make health care and Ontarians’ access to family doctors a key issue in the election.
Green Party Leader Mike Schreimer has been a vocal critic of Ford’s party, even though his party holds only two seats.

How to vote
In Ontario, you vote for your provincial representative (MPP) rather than a Premier.

Platform highlights
The campaign is comprised of party promises, released one by one. Three of the four parties have released their platforms, and the PC Party is expected to release its platform on Monday.

Important questions and issues
This election is the first time that people will receive both a ballot and a $200 government cheque at the same time. So affordability is a big issue, and each party is trying to win you over with their promises.

For more information, you can visit the party websites and read more about their promises.