But that also carries risks. In 1990, voters punished Liberal premier David Peterson, also enjoying a majority government, who called an early election with a recession looming, Wiseman noted. Peterson lost badly. “I think a lot of people felt a bit uneasy about how things were going to turn out economically,” Wiseman said.

Ford is taking Ontarians to the polls amid political instability in Ottawa after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announced that he would resign.

Toronto Sun politics reporter Bryan Passifiume joins Dave Breakenridge to discuss why Ford is calling an election now, how he hopes it plays into his response to the tariffs threat, and how opposition parties responded to the election call.

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.

Doug Ford is set to officially trigger an early provincial election campaign Tuesday, sending Ontarians to the polls Feb. 27 in a move criticized by his opposition as unnecessary but that the Premier argues he needs in order to win a stronger mandate as U.S. tariffs loom.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially set a provincial election in motion for Feb. 27, more than a year before the next fixed election date.