Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservatives swept to victory in the Ontario provincial elections on Thursday, securing an increased majority government at Queen’s Park.
The PCs ended the night with 41 per cent of the vote and 83 of the 124 seats, up from the 76 they won in 2018, ensuring a second term as Premier for party leader Ford.
In comparison, both the second-placed NDP and the Liberals will begin the hunt for new leaders after Andrea Horwath of the NDP and Steven Del Duca of the Liberals announced they would be stepping down from their roles. Del Duca also lost in his own riding of Vaughan-Woodbridge.
The NDP secured 38 seats on Thursday, two fewer than in 2018, while the Liberals’ eight seats was one better than last time but still not enough to secure official party status at Queen’s Park.
Ford received high marks from voters for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for his promises to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and spend big on major construction projects should he be re-elected.
The 2022 budget includes $158 billion in spending over 10 years, including $40 billion over 10 years towards hospital infrastructure; $25.1 billion over 10 years to highway and road construction; and $114 million over three years to the Skilled Trades Strategy.
That spending plan helped win him the support of many construction unions during the campaign, including Local 793 which hosted Ford at the Union’s head office in Oakville a week before the election to announce its endorsement of the Ontario PCs.
With Ford now returned to power, it looks like it could be a busy four years for operating engineers right across the province.
Who won in your riding? CLICK HERE for CBC’s full list of election results