While Premier Doug Ford insists that U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threat is why he's calling an election 15 months ahead of schedule, there are plenty of reasons why the timing is politically advantageous to Ford and his Ontario PC Party.

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Ontario's legislature will be dissolved on Tuesday and the most populous Canadian province will vote on Feb. 27 to elect its next government, Premier Doug Ford's office said. Ford said last week he would call an early election, citing the need for a strong mandate to fight tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Premier Doug Ford will be joined by Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation, and Sonny Gagnon, Chief of Aroland First Nation, in a media event from Toronto.

The Ontario premier says he's ready for a street fight if Trump makes good on threats of a trade war with Canada

The trail of harm of the policies of the Doug Ford government has regrettably touched many Ontarians, finds a new and timely book, Against the People (Fernwood).

Ontario premier Doug Ford sported a hat that looked similar to Trump’s iconic MAGA caps, but with a Canadian twist.

The now-viral “Canada is not for sale” hat , with blue with white letters, is the perfect foil to a MAGA (Make American Great Again) rallying cry to make Canada the 51st state. The hat is listed for $45 at strongandfreehat.

Due to Trump’s tariffs, Canada cannot afford to have the focus of one of its key provincial leaders diverted into trying to win an unnecessary provincial election.

The purpose of asking the electorate to go to the polls more than a year earlier than scheduled, according to Ford, is so he can get a clear mandate on how to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat of tariffs on Canada and, therefore, on the Ontario economy.

Ontario voters are set to head to the polls in a rare winter election. Premier Doug Ford has already been framing the snap election, coming right before an anticipated federal vote, as necessary for a strong mandate in order to best represent Ontario’s interests on the national and world stage.

Former Ontario premier David Peterson called an early election in 1990, which ended in a surprise loss to Bob Rae and the NDP. He joined London Morning host Andrew Brown to talk about Doug Ford calling an early election and questions his reasons.