Big Issues Require a Team Approach,
Not Political Games
While spring is still more than 8 weeks away, we’re experiencing a change in seasons here in Ontario, nonetheless. I’m referring to the transition into what is called ‘silly season,’ a time directly preceding an election where political rhetoric kicks into overdrive. Former Liberal MP Scott Simms said in Politico that silly season usually begins when a big issue arises that allows political parties can “glom onto for an end-of-season burst of partisan intensity.”
What’s different about entering this period of hyper-partisanship now is that an election is not necessarily imminent in Ontario. According to our election laws, we are not scheduled to head to the polls until October of 2026. However, because of our parliamentary democracy, the government of the day can seek a new mandate whenever they feel necessary or beneficial.
That’s the grey area that the Premier has left us in for some time now. He has been teasing us for months that he will call an early provincial election. Now that our neighbours to the south are threatening tariffs on Canadian goods, the Premier may have found his justification, but let’s remember that he has been publicly mulling this decision since before the U.S. election had even concluded. Hence, any justification for an early election rings somewhat hollow in that light.
There have been signs that Premier Ford is preparing for an early election for some time now, beyond just his hints to the media.
One of the most obvious signs is the notable uptick in funding announcements from various cabinet ministers. Before a government submits itself for re-election, it will almost always send out ministers to every corner of the province in a month’s long effort to highlight the funding they’ve committed to different projects, sectors, or communities. It doesn’t matter if this is a new announcement or one made public a while ago; it just matters that the minister is seen with a big cheque in hand.
Now, I always welcome these announcements in Algoma-Manitoulin. When much-needed funding and investment comes our way, it is good news and usually the culmination of hard work and advocacy by organizations in our communities. Generally, these announcements put aside partisanship and focus on what will be achieved for everyone regardless of party colours. This isn’t just by choice; it is a requirement of the integrity laws here in Ontario that when a minister is acting in the capacity of a government representative, they cannot also explicitly act as a representative of their party.
I think that this is the right approach for these kinds of things. People need to know that when an election is over and a government takes power they will still be considered and looked after no matter how they voted. However, Premier Ford has eroded that norm of our system as he postures for a snap election.
There have been a number of funding announcements in Algoma-Manitoulin over the last year that my office has been conspicuously left out of. In the past, it was the accepted practice that when a community benefits from government investment, all stakeholders are included to show that this is not a matter of partisan gain, but an effort to carry out the vital work of governing. This usually includes industry or community organizations that are benefiting and elected representatives from the municipal, provincial, and federal levels.
That has gone out the window with this provincial government. I cannot count on both hands the number of instances where a minister has shown up in Algoma-Manitoulin without providing notice to my office that funding has been awarded, that they are planning an event, or demonstrated any interest in making sure that all stakeholders are asked to participate.
This leads to tough questions for my office. I often get phone calls or messages from constituents following such an announcement asking why I didn’t show up or participate in the event. It’s an awkward conversation to have because I want nothing more than to wholeheartedly welcome these types of announcements and congratulate the government for working with our communities in the interest of building a better province. It also puts a strain on the relationship between my office and municipal governments, particularly when they are instructed not to invite the local MPP to an announcement. It causes a great deal of discomfort on their end, worrying about whether they should make sure to include all local leaders or abide by the government’s wishes.
Unfortunately, this is Premier Ford’s modus operandi. He has slowly but surely begun to blur the line between governing a province and leading a political party, seeing the job as one and the same. You could look back at an August 28th story in the Manitoulin Expositor for another example of this.
The Expositor reported in that story that the Premier had been questioned about delays in announcing the new Little Current Swing Bridge project. He responded by telling the questioner that the biggest issue is that Manitoulin doesn’t have a representative from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario as an MPP. Immediately after that, I wrote to the Premier to express my dismay at his comments. Holding up massive infrastructure projects for partisan gain is not how things are run in a democratic society like Ontario. It is outrageous and insulting to suggest that people should fear reprisal for how they vote.
Premier Ford continues to mull, throwing Ontario into another election purely for political gain. I think that it is necessary for one message to be made clear: Right now, we need a Premier and a government that is focused on the job of governing, that is focused on bringing Ontarians together and facing our problems as a team.
We are facing serious and mounting threats and many unresolved crises in almost every public sector. It is time to put an end to this early ‘silly season,’ stop the political gamesmanship and get to work for the people of Ontario.
As always, I invite you to contact my office about these issues or any other provincial matters. You can reach my constituency office by email at mmantha-co@ola.org or call Toll-free 1-800-831-1899.
Michael Mantha, MPP
Algoma-Manitoulin
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