Ford promises additional $22B for Ontario infrastructure projects if re-elected premier

PC Leader Doug Ford promised $22 billion in spending for infrastructure projects in Ontario during a news conference in Niagara Falls on Friday. 

The funds are in addition to nearly $200 billion he said will go toward building transit, highway and roads — including widening the Queen Elizabeth Way between Burlington and St. Catharines to combat gridlock. 

"We're the only party that believes in putting shovels in the ground," Ford said. 

The PC leader is also promising $2.5 billion toward training "more than a million people for better jobs and bigger paycheques in the skilled trades," the party said in a news release Friday.

Ford spoke at length about U.S. President Donald Trump, who is expected to announce 25 per cent tariffs on Canada on Saturday. 

"As we brace for the tariffs tomorrow, it's never been more important to keep building, to build more, to build faster," he said. 

He said the federal government should "retaliate hard" against the U.S. should tariffs go into effect.

"Meet them dollar for dollar, tariff for tariff," Ford said. "If [Trump] wants to put pain on Ontario families … take food off their table, we will hit him with everything we have." 

Niagara, St. Catharines, Welland mayors endorse Ford

During Friday's news conference, Ford was endorsed by the mayors of Niagara, St. Catharines and Welland. 

"He always listens and then he takes action," Niagara Mayor Jim Diodati said. "To me, that's exactly what we're looking for in a leader." 

NDP Leader Marit Stiles released a statement Friday, saying there needs to be a unified response across the provinces, territories and federal government to the U.S. tariffs. 

"Doug Ford quit his job on the eve of these tariffs to try and secure himself a third term," the statement read. "Ontario desperately needs a leader with better judgment in the face of Trump's tariffs."

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also released a statement Friday, advocating for a "team Ontario approach that puts people before partisan politics." 

Should the tariffs go into effect, Schreiner said the Green Party would create a tariff task force for trade negotiations, develop a Buy Ontario strategy and create a fund for businesses disproportionately affected by tariffs. 

They would also diversify trade partners, work with other provinces to remove interprovincial trade barriers and create an investment tax credit "to unlock business investments in Ontario," the statement read. 

Friday marks the third day of the election campaign. The snap election, called by Ford, will be held on Feb. 27.