As party leaders launched their election campaigns Wednesday, NDP Leader Marit Stiles was ready with lengthy criticisms of her opponents on the ballot, while the only politician Doug Ford mentioned outside his party was U.

Ontario Premier and Conservative Party Leader Doug Ford officially launched his snap election campaign from Windsor, Ont. this morning.

Ford says he needs the strongest majority in Ontario history in order to effectively deal with the threatened 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump, and held his first official campaign event in Windsor, with a backdrop of the Ambassador Bridge to the U.S.

Calling an early Ontario election — more than a year ahead of schedule — is about “protecting our economy,” MPP Andrew Dowie (PC — Windsor-Tecumseh) told the Star Friday. Premier Doug Ford ended months of teasing and rumours by announcing he would be calling a snap election next Wednesday.

The leader of Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, has kicked off his provincial election campaign, saying he needs a strong mandate to fight the tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump