Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock MPP Laurie Scott feels premier Doug Ford had no choice but to call a provincial election 15 months early, given U.S. president Donald Trump’s repeated threats to implement tariffs on Canadian imports.
Seeking a seventh term in office, Scott said it’s important Ontarians use their voice – and vote – to select who they want to lead the province through what she expects will be a tumultuous four years.
“The premier has been very strong in his fight to protect Ontario jobs. He’s certainly seen as the guy that will fight to protect Ontario’s economy, to engage with the president and his team,” Scott said. “Trump’s election really shifted everything. We’re looking for the public to give us a strong mandate for four years, which hits the same timelines Trump will be in office for.”
An election was legislated to take place by June 4, 2026. Ford officially declared on Jan. 29 that a new vote will take place Feb. 27.
Addressing media Jan. 24, the premier said due to instability in Ottawa following prime minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation (he will remain in office until the Liberals select a new leader March 9) that it was more important than ever for an Ontario government to stand strong.
“You need a loud voice at the table,” Ford said. “The choice that people are going to have for the next 30 days will affect every aspect of their lives, and the kids’ lives, and their grandchildrens’ lives for the next 20 to 30 years.”
Thus far, the only other approved candidate in the HKLB riding is Tom Regina, who will stand for the Green Party.
HKLB Liberal Association president Judi Forbes, who ran in the 2022 election, said there was no candidate as of press time. She said the party has committed to reopening the Minden ER if elected and will focus on attracting and retaining family physicians in small communities.
Forbes said the Liberals also want to re-establish a carbon program that focuses on polluters and protect the Greenbelt. She condemned Ford for calling an early election – saying it will “unnecessarily” cost taxpayers millions of dollars.
“Doug Ford already has a majority government, that means he already has a mandate until the fall,” Forbes said.
She also took Scott to task for her perceived absence during the closure of the Minden ER in 2023.
Scott reiterated her stance that the decision was made by the previous Haliburton Highlands Health Services (HHHS) leadership, not the province.
“It was not anything anyone wanted nor expected… I was just as frustrated that [HHHS] could have prepared and communicated things better and had a plan in place. It was a big blow,” Scott said. “That hospital was the closest one to me, too. So, I completely understand and wholeheartedly sympathize with people.”
Scott feels recent improvements to the Haliburton hospital – including a new CAT scan and a pending mammography unit, and soon-to-be installed ER x-ray, as well as the hiring of three new ER doctors and multiple nurses – shows the province is committed to improving health care in the County.
The equipment and their installation, which cost millions, were largely paid for via community donations, with the HHHS Foundation announcing late last year it had raised $6.225 million to cover the upgrades.
Regina, who scored 3,695 votes (7.55 per cent) in the 2022 election, refused to accept Trump’s recent inauguration as reason enough to send Ontarians back to the polls early – saying that is more of a federal concern.
“The Ontario premier’s support will be required, but the Americans will not consider him to be a spokesperson for Canada. Dealing with the U.S. is a federal government responsibility,” Regina said.
He slammed Ford for “wasteful” initiatives, noting the decision to liberalize alcohol sales will set the province back approximately $1.4 billion by 2030, per a Financial Accountability Office report released Jan. 27. Speeding up the timeline added $612 million to the bottom line, the report states.
Regina also criticized the decision to provide $200 tax rebates to all Ontarians, for an expected bill of $3.2 billion. Ford said the money is to help offset the cost of the federal carbon tax and high interest rates.
The NDP party has yet to announce a candidate, with neither the provincial party or local association responding to questions by press time. Barbara Doyle stood in 2022, finishing second with 15 per cent of the vote. Lindsay-based Zack Tisdale will represent the Libertarian Party, while Gene Balfour, who stood for the Libertarians in the previous two provincial elections, will run as an independent.
