Doug Ford says early federal election has ‘come up’ in conversations with PM but downplays its significance

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the idea of an early federal election has come up in conversations with Carney but it’s up to the PM to decide.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says that the possibility of an early federal election has “come up” in conversations with Prime Minister Mark Carney and his fellow premiers but he is downplaying its significance.

Ford made the comment to reporters at Queen’s Park on Tuesday.

His response comes in the wake of a report in the Globe and Mail which, citing sources, suggested that he and Carney have discussed the possibility of an early federal election in “casual conversations.”

“I don’t divulge our conversations but I’ll be very frank with you. When you get 13 premiers in a room politics comes up and politics of every type comes up. That (an early election) came up but that’s going to be up to the prime minister, it’s going to be up to the people to decide,” Ford said.

Carney told reporters last month that his government is “focused on results for Canadians” and is not considering another election right now.

There has, however, been speculation over whether Carney might send Canadians to the polls in search of a majority mandate.

On Tuesday, Ford was pressed on whether it would be preferable to have a majority government in Ottawa amid uncertain times but accused the reporter who asked the question of “putting words” into his mouth.

“I’ve always said I don’t care about political stripes,” he said. “I’ll work with anyone. I think I’ve proved that. I don’t care if it is a Liberal federal government or a NDP mayor. I’ll work with anyone that has the best interest of Ontario at heart.”

Last February, Ford sent Ontarians to the polls with nearly two years left in his mandate, arguing at the time that a strong mandate was needed amid a trade war with the United States.

Ford ultimately returned to Queen’s Park with a new majority government.

“If they do decide to call the election has nothing to do with me,” he said on Tuesday. “I called my election. I’m good, we’re moving forward and that’s that.”

A poll released by Nanos Research on Monday showed that the Liberals currently have a four-point lead on the Conservatives nationally.