Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie launched her More for You Tour in Mississauga with pointed criticism of Premier Doug Ford, accusing him of using the prospect of U.S. tariffs as an excuse to call an early provincial election.
Speaking at The Crooked Cue in Port Credit on Thursday morning, Crombie asserted that Ford’s motives were not about tariffs but about diverting attention from the ongoing RCMP investigation into the Greenbelt land swap.
“Doug Ford is looking for any excuse to call an early election to get ahead of an RCMP investigation on the Greenbelt scandal,” Crombie said. “This isn’t about Donald Trump, tariffs, or Ontarians. This is about him—a selfish, unnecessary election a year and a half before we are supposed to vote in June 2026.”
The RCMP investigation, launched in 2023, centers around Ford’s controversial Greenbelt land swap, which has faced public and political scrutiny. Ford has maintained that he has nothing to hide.
Crombie criticized the potential $175 million cost of an early election, stating that the Ford government already has the authority to pass stimulus legislation to combat tariffs without going to the polls.
“All the opposition parties have expressed support for the stimulus package,” Crombie said. “This is unnecessary political theater.”
While opposing the idea of an early election, Crombie emphasized that the Ontario Liberal Party is prepared if one is called.
“We’ve been knocking on doors, recruiting volunteers, and fundraising,” Crombie said. The party has already nominated 50 candidates, with another 30 nominations underway and 40 more to go.
Crombie also clarified her intention to run in Mississauga, though she has not yet specified the riding.
“I’m going to be running right here in Mississauga,” she told reporters. “There are one of three ridings that are open, and it will be one of them.”
During the event, Crombie outlined her vision for Ontario under a Liberal government, focusing on healthcare, affordability, and housing.
- Healthcare: “We’ll fix health care by ensuring that every Ontarian has a family doctor,” Crombie pledged, promising to recruit 3,100 new doctors within four years and reduce red tape for healthcare workers.
- Affordability: Crombie proposed cutting income taxes, removing HST from hydro and home heating bills, and reducing development charges to make homes more affordable.