Ontario leaders debate key issues ahead of provincial election

Ontario’s political leaders met in Toronto to debate Monday night, the week before the provincial election is set to take place.

In a spirited discussion that lasted an hour and a half, the four members battling for the province’s top job, PC leader Doug Ford, NDP leader Marit Stiles, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Party leader Mike Schreiner, discussed a wide variety of topics.

Response to U.S. tariff threats

The evening opened with a discussion about something that has been top of mind for most Canadians: U.S. President Donald Trump and his threat of tariffs.

Each respondent detailed their plan for handling the tariffs, whenever they might come into play.

Ford focused on the idea of unity among Canadians, and diversifying trade to replace the country’s reliance on the United States.

Stiles rebutted, saying “as we face this big threat from Donald Trump, something we’ve never faced quite to this extent before, Doug Ford quit his job.”

She committed to protecting all jobs in the province despite the hefty import taxes facing some of Ontario’s biggest industries, like steel manufacturing.

Provincial healthcare and the issue of family doctors

Healthcare in the province, and the lack of accessibility to family physicians, has become an increasing issue over the past few years. Each candidate was asked how they would improve conditions.

“A vote for Ontario’s Liberals, is a vote for family doctors,” Crombie said. She suggests her government could ensure each Ontarian would have a family doctor within four years of being in power.

On the flip side, Ford said his government had sought out 15,000 new doctors, and 100,000 new nurses, after investing billions of dollars to the suffering sector.

“We cannot afford not to get this right,” NDP leader Stiles added, saying the Ford government “poured gasoline all over” the hallway healthcare problem.

Cost of living crisis

While discussing the cost of living crisis facing Ontarians, Schreiner mentioned the $200 cheques Ford’s government mailed to every taxpayer in the province. He asked why the province would want to send this money to “millionaires and billionaires” like the CEO of Loblaws.

“Unfortunately, in Ontario right now, the rich insiders are getting richer, and the rest of us are just struggling to get by,” he said.

To address this issue, Schreiner said his party would lower taxes for low earners, and build affordable rental properties.

Ford responded, saying “this is where we fundamentally disagree.”

“We believe in giving back taxes, you guys believe in charging taxes,” he said of his PC government.

Stiles, on the other hand, suggested a grocery rebate program her NDP government would usher in.

All candidates agreed they would not develop housing within the confines of the Greenbelt.

Youth crime and public safety in Ontario

The province, specifically the GTHA, has been grappling with a staggering number of violent carjackings and home invasions over the past few years, creating an environment Crombie described as “out of hand.”

She said her government would be tough on criminals, but would also address the root causes of crime.

“We’re going to be really tough on repeat offenders,” Crombie said. “I don’t want my grandchildren living in Doug Ford’s Ontario.”

While discussing the bail laws in place in the country, Ford said he supports tougher bail laws and judges to combat what he called the federal Liberals’ “catch-and-release” policies.

He also mentioned the number of police officers his government has helped municipalities hire.

What has been left out of these campaign platforms?

Towards the end of the debate period, each candidate was asked about issues that voters in the province felt had been left out during this condensed campaign period.

Stiles was asked about her open criticism of supervised consumption site closures, a topic she has not presented an action plan to address.

“The answer to addiction is healthcare,” she said. “That means that you do not take resources out of communities, without putting back more, and better, resources.”

Schreiner’s Green Party has notably left a prior pledge out of this campaigning period – merging the Catholic school boards with public boards.

“Right now, we have a crisis in our public education system,” he said in response to this change.

“The Ford government has cut per-pupil funding for education by $1,500. The priority for people right now is to shore up our public education system, and that means supporting both our public and Catholic boards.”

Crombie was asked about the issue of traffic congestion, which has not been a key platform item for any of the candidates.

“We need to invest more into our public transit systems,” she said. “We’re talking about $150 billion fantasy tunnels, rather than utilizing existing resources.”

Closing statements

In the incumbent premier’s closing statement, he said Ontario had a “clear choice” heading into next week’s election. He reiterated his government’s need for a strong mandate from the province to battle President Trump’s incoming tariffs.

For her part, Crombie addressed the tariff threats in her final statement by saying Ontario “needs a premier that will protect everyone’s job, not just his own.”

Stiles brought the conversation back to the rising cost of living in the province, adding that Ontarians “don’t have to settle for this.”

Finally, Schreiner said his party would be led by communities, and will put the needs of individuals before all else.

The provincial general election will take place on Thursday, Feb. 27.