The premier of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, said on Friday he would call an early election, citing the need for a strong mandate to fight against tariffs threatened by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Doug Ford, Ontario’s Conservative leader, has recently said that President Trump was “going to try to devastate our country” with a plan to impose tariffs on Canadian exports.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is sending voters to the polls 15 months early, with a snap election he says is needed to deal with the threat posed to Ontario’s economy by U.S. President Donald Trump and his avowed tariffs on Canadian exports. Key things to know ahead of Wednesday’s expected election call:

Ontario's political parties have been preparing for months for the possibility of an early election, but next week’s snap election call has pushed planning to a fever pitch.

The leader of Canada’s most populous province says he will be calling an election in Ontario because he says he needs a mandate to fight U.S.

TORONTO — Premier Doug Ford plans to call a snap election next Wednesday and send Ontarians to the polls on Feb. 27, The Canadian Press has learned. Two senior government sources say Ford recently made the decision for the rare winter election after waffling for months.

Ontario’s premier is calling an early election, saying his government needs a fresh mandate to help Canada’s fight against potential tariffs from US President Donald Trump.