Ontario PCs to hold ‘super caucus’ meeting Saturday as early election speculation grows

Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives are planning to hold a “supercaucus” on Saturday, as speculation grows about a snap election.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford, wearing a “Canada is not for sale” hat, attended a first ministers’ meeting in Ottawa on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025.

Another sign that Doug Ford may call a snap election is an invitation sent to members of the Ontario Progressive Conservatives asking them to attend the special meeting.

The invitation, obtained by CP24, states:
“Given the unprecedented threat posed by a potential trade war with the United States, it is more important than ever to prepare for an election so that we can build a strong voter mandate.”

Ontario snap election likely
Candidates and campaign managers have been invited to the meeting, which will be held near Pearson International Airport. The event will discuss topics such as polling and strategy, and will feature speeches from pollster Nick Kovalis and the premier himself.

While it is not yet clear whether Ford will call a snap election, he told reporters Wednesday: “Wait and see,” when asked about the possibility of calling an election next week, as reported by some media outlets.

“We need a popular mandate. We need a mandate to protect jobs, businesses and communities, and it could cost billions of dollars to do that,” he said.

Tariff threat, need for popular approval
Ford has previously hinted that he may call a snap election in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to impose a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, which could take effect as early as February 1.

The tariff, Ford said, could threaten 500,000 Ontario jobs and require billions of dollars in spending to avert its effects.
“There’s only one group that can give you a permit, and that’s the people,” he said.

Ontario’s election is due on Wednesday. So if Ford calls an election next week, the vote would be held 28 days later, on February 27.

Polls: Conservatives in lead
News of the meeting comes as a new Ledger poll shows the Progressive Conservatives leading Bonnie Crombie’s Liberals by 24 points.

The poll shows that if the election were held today, 46 percent of voters would be undecided and inclined to support Ford's party, while 22 percent would support the Liberal Party and 19 percent would support the New Democratic Party.

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