The leader of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, said Friday that he would call an early election, because he says he needs a mandate to fight U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs,

Officials across the country were watching to see if Trump imposed tariffs on Canada in his first day on the job.

Premier Doug Ford is planning to call a provincial election next Wednesday, which would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, a senior Progressive Conservative source has confirmed to CBC News.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to call a snap election Wednesday, using the threat of 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump to justify his early call. That election call would send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, more than a year before the June 2026 fixed election date.

Premier Doug Ford says Ontario residents will be heading to the polls next month. Speaking in Brampton today (Jan. 24), the premier confirmed the rumours saying that Feb. 27 will be the date of the election.

Canada’s premiers are divided on how to tackle Donald Trump as the incoming U.S. president threatens 25% tariffs on the nation’s goods.

The premiers’ Council of the Federation, of which Ford is currently the rotating chair, will sit down with Justin Trudeau to hash out what the country will do to counter Trump’s tariff vow

The leader of Ontario said Jan. 24 he will be calling an election next week because he needs a mandate to fight U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs.

Americans critical of Trump's annexation talk have already ordered thousands of the hats, according to its creators.

The hats became an instant hit, with tens of thousands sold online since Ford’s public endorsement. Mooney credits a Fox News interview where Ford dismissed the idea of U.S. annexation, declaring, “Canada is not for sale,” as inspiration for the product.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to call a snap election Wednesday, seeking an even larger majority than his current government holds and using the threat of 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump as a justification.