Newly re-elected Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks to supporters at his election night event in Toronto on Thursday, February 27, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor
Doug Ford’s third consecutive victory as Ontario premier has sparked a storm of mixed reactions online, with many questioning the low voter turnout and what it means for the province’s future.
Ford’s win marks the first time since 1959 that a party leader has won three straight majorities in Ontario.
The PCs ended the night with 80 seats, 17 more than required for a majority government, with 42.97 per cent of the votes.
This morning, Ford thanked Ontarians for giving him another term.
Thank you, Ontario!
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) February 28, 2025
I will never take your support for granted. I will wake up everyday to fight like I’ve never fought before.
Together, we’ll protect Ontario. pic.twitter.com/RfIv7lfg6i
The Brandon Gonez Show spoke with some voters who seem to have conflicting views on the election results, but hope things will turn out well.
“I know he is a nice guy as far as his constituents, but there [are] things that he’s done that I didn’t like. One in particular is Ontario Place [and] what’s happening there. I’m upset about that,” Pat D. said. “I know he is a fighter. So, what he is going to be doing with the United States, with Trump, is going to work out to our benefit.”
Sean Heiligers, who was hoping for a minority government, said the results are “extremely disappointing.”
“He does not do anything for people with low incomes, or there is no rental support. So many things are wrong because of the Conservative government.”
On social media, voters seem to have mixed feelings about the win.
While some expect Ford to keep his promises of protecting Ontarians from the effects of Trump’s tariffs, many are pointing out the province’s public health-care system issues and Ford’s decision to replace Ontario Place with a Therme spa.
“We supported you, we voted for you now it’s your turn to look after us,” a user commented on Ford’s post thanking supporters.
”People waiting hours on end to be treated at the hospital, lack of family doctors, Ford wants to privatize healthcare, not enough funding for education causing post-secondary education to make program cuts and yet Doug Ford is still in power,” another user wrote.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, who is also the son-in-law of Sylvia Gualtieri, who won Mississauga East-Cooksville’s seat over Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie, celebrated Ford’s win and recapped initiatives supported by Ford in the city.
“Celebrating with Premier Ford on his historic 3rd majority government,” he wrote on X. “I look forward to continuing our work together in serving Brampton and Ontario.”
Similar to Brown, Nova Scotia premier Tim Houston also celebrated the win, saying he looks forward “to break down interprovincial trade barriers and grow opportunities across Canada in the years ahead.”
Josh Morgan, Mayor of London, ON, also congratulated the premier and hoped for a positive cooperation with the PC.
LOW VOTER TURNOUT
Unofficial election results indicate that 45.40 per cent of the more than 11 million registered voters cast their ballots in yesterday’s election. That is less than a two-per cent increase from 2022, when turnout hit a historically low level.
“You can’t be pissed at the Government, and expect your neighbour to vote for change. 45% voter turnout is embarrassing,” a user wrote on X.
“I just want to scream at everyone who keeps saying ‘what [is] the point of voting, it’s not gonna change anything,” another user commented.
PARTY LEADERS SPEAK AFTER LOSS
Speaking to supporters yesterday night at the Mississauga Convention Centre, Crombie announced that despite her loss she will “stay on” as the leader of the Liberal Party.
“People of Ontario deserve more than what they’ve gotten from [Ford] in the last seven years. You promised to protect Ontario, but you neglected Ontario. We’re going to make sure that you go back to protecting us. We’ll make sure that you protect our public health-care system and our Greenbelt and everyone trying to get ahead in this province who doesn’t have a direct line to your office. Ontario, I’m here. I’m with you and I commit to you today that I will stay on.”
Reacting to Ford’s win, she recognized that although these were not the expected results, she will continue to hold the provincial government accountable, calling out the re-elected premier on his campaign promises.
“Doug, we’ll be watching. We know Ontario can do so much better and I know you know I’m not going to slow down for one second when it comes to standing up for the people of this province,” she said. “Doug, you promised a lot of things during this campaign and one of them was to get people more family doctors, and I’m going to hold you to it. The Ontario Liberal Party is going to hold you to it.”
Similar to Crombie, NDP leader Marit Stiles said she will hold Ford’s government accountable, as the NDP stays on as official opposition.
“The people of Ontario made their choice. They re-elected the government hoping it will help protect them against Donald Trump and his tariffs. They trusted me and my team to do a different but also very important job. We’ve been tasked again to serve the people of Ontario as their official opposition,” Stiles said.
Speaking to supporters at The Great Hall on Queen St., Stiles also vowed to keep an eye on Ford’s government and offered the premier help to combat Trump’s tariffs.
“I’m congratulating tonight premier Ford on his victory. And I really do want to offer him any possible help that we can provide in the face of the threat of Donald Trump. The threat is real. And I deeply believe that we can overcome it with a strong Team Ontario and a strong Team Canada approach,” she said.
Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, who won his seat as MPP for Guelph in yesterday’s election, also spoke on Ford’s win while addressing supporters, saying that Ontario has many “crises” to face with issues around climate change, housing, health care, and education.
“I say to Mr. Ford, congratulations on a majority government. The two Ontario Green MPPs will do our job to hold your government accountable. We will do it as the unofficial official opposition,” he said.
