The Ontario Progressive Conservatives (PCs) and Liberals are going head-to-head with dueling campaign ads during Super Bowl Sunday, a high-profile advertising battleground that reaches millions of viewers across the country.
Each party is set to air two ads during the Canadian broadcast of the NFL championship game, an event that typically boasts the largest TV audience of the year and commands the most expensive ad slots.
The Ontario Liberals, led by Bonnie Crombie, are running a 30-second attack ad centered around PC Leader Doug Ford’s recent hot-mic moment, where he expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s re-election before stating that Trump later “pulled the knife out” on Canada by threatening harsh tariffs. A spokesperson for the Liberals confirmed that the ad seeks to highlight Ford’s shifting stance on Trump and the potential consequences for Ontario.
Meanwhile, the Ontario PCs are focusing on a more positive messaging approach, according to a party spokesperson. Their campaign will feature a new 60-second ad and a 30-second spot already in circulation, emphasizing Ford’s leadership and positioning him as the best choice to “protect Ontario” from economic uncertainty, particularly in light of Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian goods.
This latest advertising clash underscores the growing tension between the two major parties as they prepare for the next provincial election. The PCs have already placed Crombie and the Liberals in their crosshairs, with recent ads accusing the opposition of opposing affordability measures and failing to provide a clear economic plan.
With the Ontario economy, U.S. trade relations, and affordability concerns dominating political discourse, both parties are leveraging the Super Bowl’s massive viewership to shape public opinion and gain momentum ahead of the campaign season.