Incumbent Ontario Premier Doug Ford won an even bigger majority on Thursday as opposition parties’ support collapses, forcing both NDP and Liberal leaders resign Ford’s Progressive Conservatives landslide win in Canada’s largest province by population. Ford has secured a second majority government with an emphatic win that saw him increase from his 2018 seat count with Ford’s PCs elected or leading in 83 of 124 ridings.
By DESIBUZZCanada Staff With News Files
TORONTO – Incumbent Ontario Premier Doug Ford won an even bigger majority on Thursday as opposition parties’ support collapses, forcing both NDP and Liberal leaders resign Ford’s Progressive Conservatives landslide win in Canada’s largest province by population.
Ford has secured a second majority government with an emphatic win that saw him increase from his 2018 seat count with Ford’s PCs elected or leading in 83 of 124 ridings.
The NDP will form the official opposition, and is elected or leading in 31 seats, while the Liberals are in third, elected or leading in eight.
The Greens have kept Guelph and an independent candidate is leading in Haldimand-Norfolk.
A crowd assembled at Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke erupted into applause at news of the projection.
“What a night and what a result – together we have done the impossible – we have made history. . . wow I am just so grateful, so grateful for your support, it’s what keeps me going,” Ford told the crowd.
The Ontario PCs appear to have secured more than 41 percent of the vote, roughly in line with their 2018 performance.
In a short speech, he said he felt he had expanded what it meant to be a Progressive Conservative in Ontario, and centred the political discussion around the economy in a new way.
“If you’ve had to worry about your job at the local auto plant – I want you to know we’re investing in the future of the auto sector – if you’re a student who wants to work in the tech sector – I want you to know we’ll have a job waiting for you. You have my word that every single day I will get up and get to work and do everything in my power to achieve this dream.”
His team said they knocked on three million doors during the five-week campaign, and his top official was beaming when he spoke about the result.
“It’s not often you get re-elected with a higher number of seats, so we’re feeling pretty good,” PC campaign manager Kory Teneycke told CTV News Toronto.
Ford led in most polls during the campaign, with several this week putting him more than 10 per cent ahead of the Liberals and even farther ahead of the NDP.
Liberal leader Steven Del Duca lost in his riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge and Andrea Horwath said in her speech that she would step down as leader after 13 years.
