Snap Ontario election call kicks parties’ planning into high gear: “We’re prepared and ready to go.” Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner
January 26, 2025
By Allison Jones and Liam Casey, THE CANADIAN PRESS as seen on CITY NEWS TORONTO website on Sunday, January 26
EXTRACT:
He (Ford) said he needs a new mandate, with the biggest majority in provincial history, in order to represent Ontario’s interests amid threatened tariffs. But opposition parties accuse Ford of opportunism and trying to capitalize on favourable polling.
Ford was asked on Friday if he would be unveiling a fully costed platform at some point during the campaign and he offered contradicting responses. “That’s why we have budgets,” he said at first, though a minute later he committed to “fully releasing it.”
The Greens have also been busy nominating candidates, celebrating reaching half of a full slate on Friday.
They broke a record last year by raising $2.4 million and will be zeroing in on a few ridings where they believe they can win, including Parry Sound-Muskoka, which is currently held by Progressive Conservative Graydon Smith. The Greens’ Matt Richter came second there in 2022.
They’re also looking at Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound and Wellington-Halton Hills in southwestern Ontario, where they have local councillors running. “We’re prepared and ready to go,” Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner said. ““We’re the one party really talking about putting people before profits, especially when it comes to addressing the housing affordability crisis, the fact that we want people to have access to a family doctor, we don’t want to see rural hospitals closed and addressing overcrowded classrooms.”
