{"id":14930,"date":"2025-01-30T20:55:16","date_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/on-the-offensive-ontario-party-leaders-take-campaigns-into-opposition-territory\/"},"modified":"2025-01-30T20:55:16","modified_gmt":"2025-01-30T20:55:16","slug":"on-the-offensive-ontario-party-leaders-take-campaigns-into-opposition-territory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/torontotribune.ca\/index.php\/2025\/01\/30\/on-the-offensive-ontario-party-leaders-take-campaigns-into-opposition-territory\/","title":{"rendered":"On the offensive? Ontario party leaders take campaigns into opposition territory"},"content":{"rendered":"


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As the second day of Ontario\u2019s snap election campaign<\/a> got underway, party leaders struck out into fresh territory looking to woo voters in areas they didn\u2019t win in 2022 and flip ridings before election day.<\/p>\n

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Progressive Conservative<\/a> Leader Doug Ford<\/a> started the campaign deep in the traditionally NDP-held territory of western Ontario, campaigning in Windsor at the U.S. border on the first day of the election, before moving to London.<\/p>\n

The PC leader is bringing a promise of blue-collar job protection to ridings in London that have most recently sent NDP representatives to Queen\u2019s Park. Amid the threat of tariffs from the U.S.<\/a> on Canadian exports, Ford is pitching his party as the area\u2019s best option.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the party unveiled a promise to spend an additional $1 billion on skills and development if re-elected, along with $38 million for action centres in areas hit by layoffs if the U.S. levels tariffs.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWe\u2019re very confident that that market\u2019s going to continue to grow,\u201d Ford said of electric vehicles<\/a>, which are set to be made in the area, and fears of potential job losses in the industry. \u201cBut we\u2019re going to be here to support the sector, we\u2019re going to be here to support the workers. And we\u2019ll do whatever it takes to protect the workers.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The decision to launch the campaign and tariff threat message in parts of the province where the PCs didn\u2019t win in 2022 appears to be supported by a confident PC party leader. Asked if he had fears of losing any of the 79 seats his party held at dissolution, Ford simply replied, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

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To the east of Ford, in Toronto, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles<\/a> boarded her orange battle bus beside Queen\u2019s Park to take her campaign into territory won by Ford last time around.<\/p>\n

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Stiles drove to New Hamburg, an area won by PC Mike Harris Jr. last time around. Later in the day, she will drive to Essex, where PC candidate Anthony Leardi is defending his seat.<\/p>\n

Before that, on the first day of the campaign, Stiles was in York-South-Weston, a Toronto seat last held by the PC leader\u2019s nephew, Michael Ford.<\/p>\n

The NDP<\/a> leader said she is also gunning for areas where the Liberals hope to gain or maintain ground.<\/p>\n

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