VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Ontario Premier Doug Ford won reelection to lead Canada’s most populous province Thursday, giving him the mandate he wanted to fight tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“I am very grateful to the people of Ontario,” Ford told CTV News afterward. “We’re going to make sure we will protect the people of Ontario and protect their families, their jobs and businesses. I’ll fight tooth and nail against Donald Trump.”
Unofficial results from Elections Ontario showed Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party would win a majority government, giving him his third term as premier.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, whose Liberal Party will choose a new leader March 9, congratulated Ford on his victory.
Ford called the election on Jan. 29, more than a year early. The Conservatives already held a majority with 79 seats.
He said at the time he needed a four-year mandate to protect Ontario, Canada’s manufacturing and automobile hub.
Trump has threatened to implement 25% tariffs on all Canadian imports, with a lower 10% levy on energy, beginning Tuesday. He also has angered Canadians by talking about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.
During the campaign Ford made two trips to Washington to speak to U.S. government and business leaders about the tariffs.
Ford has said his government is prepared to spend “tens of billions of dollars” to protect jobs and the economy of Ontario, and he has mu