It’s provincial election day in Ontario, Thursday.
Polls suggest the Progressive Conservatives led by incumbent Premier Doug Ford are close to forming a second majority government.
Mr. Ford campaigned largely on his party’s promises to build highways and hospitals in Ontario, and other measures he touted as job-creating. In recent days, he has limited media availability.
The leaders of the New Democratic Party (NDP) and the Liberal Party are both presenting themselves as the only alternative to the Progressive Conservatives and have not committed to working together in the event of a Progressive Conservative minority.
This could be the last election as NDP leader for Andrea Horwath, who is running for the fourth time to lead the government after her party made gains in 2018 to form the official opposition in parliament. His party’s proposals include accelerating drug and dental plans for Ontarians, hiring more nurses and teachers, and raising the minimum wage to $20 an hour by 2026.
The Liberals, meanwhile, are hoping to rebuild their party after a devastating defeat four years ago that saw their caucus reduced to just seven seats after spending more than a decade at the helm of government.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, who lost his seat in 2018, also faces a seemingly tight race in his own riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge, although he says he intends to stay on as party leader. regardless of the election result.
The Liberal platform includes plans to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory to attend school, the abolition of the provincial Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on prepared foods under $20 and an increase hourly minimum wage to $16 by next year.
The Green Party of Ontario is proposing free mental health care coverage, an ambitious plan to reduce polluting emissions by 2045, and protecting 30% of Ontario’s lands and waters by 2030. party led by Mike Schreiner hopes to expand its caucus by one seat, won by Mr. Schreiner in Guelph four years ago, and is considering a potential opening in Parry Sound-Muskoka.
Doug Ford is expected to vote Thursday in his riding in Toronto, while Ms. Horwath will vote in Hamilton.
Leaders are expected to hold events in the evening after the results are announced.
Elections Ontario said more than one million people voted at advance polls last month and also noted a sharp increase in mail-in ballots requested compared to the 2018 election.
Voting kits were mailed to 126,135 eligible voters this time around, compared to 15,202 ballots in the last election.