Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially called an early election and said he has an economic action plan to respond to potentially devastating U.S. tariffs. But he said the strategy would only be unveiled gradually over the course of the month-long snap campaign.

The leader of Canada’s most populous province says he will be calling an election in Ontario because he says he needs a mandate to fight U.S.

ALSO ON SPEED DIAL — The premier, widely believed to be days away from calling a provincial election, said he speaks with DOMINIC LEBLANC “every day — almost every day” as they coordinate a Team Canada approach to wrangling the Trump administration.

Canada’s outgoing prime minister and the leader of the country’s oil rich province of Alberta are confident Canada can avoid the 25% tariffs President Donald Trump says he will impose on Canada and Mexico on Feb.

Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic Leblanc, left, and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly, right, share a laugh with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ontario Premier Doug Ford as they leave a press conference to conclude a first ministers meeting, in Ottawa, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

After nearly 16 months of work, the foreign interference commission's final report will be made public. Here's what the report could contain.

Roughly $900 billion in annual trade between Canada and the United States — and with it, traditionally chummy bilateral ties — is on the brink of upheaval, with President Donald Trump threatening to impose sweeping tariffs on Canada as early as this weekend.

SPINNING PLATES — DOMINIC LEBLANC is not lacking for priorities. Cabinet’s pointman on government finances, Canada’s premiers and key players in the Trump transition is starting to prepare an annual budget — and, according to the Globe, a bulky tariff relief package.

But there’s a golden rule for politicians in this province: if it’s a battle between Alberta and the Liberal Party of Canada, you choose the Grits at your peril. Nenshi just ignored it and now puts at risk his provincial political career before even taking a seat in the legislature.

— Which party leaders will still have their jobs at the end of 2025? More than 90 percent see Poilievre and Bloc Leader YVES-FRANÇOIS BLANCHET keeping their gigs. Seventy percent say Trudeau’s successor will stay on, and slightly fewer say ELIZABETH MAY and MAXIME BERNIER will still be leaders.

Speaking at a Markham fundraiser that was closed to the media, Premier Doug Ford did not mince words about a vote he is expected to trigger as early as next week.

Doug Ford insists he’s not rushing into a snap Feb. 27 Ontario election to get in front of a federal vote expected this spring. Ontarians traditionally prefer different parties in power at Queen ...