We weren’t expecting an Ontario election, but here we are.
More than one year ahead of schedule, Premier Doug Ford is rolling the dice with a snap election. He’s betting his government will get another four years with a majority.
In his campaign, he’s positioning himself as a defender of Ontario, playing tough with U.S. President Donald Trump. That’s a bit ironic, given how Ford was a supporter of Trump in last year’s U.S. election.
In any case, the tariffs, mass deportations and the general chaos of the Trump administration have caused mainstream news to focus largely on Canada-U.S. relations.
It’s difficult to see local people and communities from this perspective. And it can be easy to forget the various stories and scandals from the past several years that have impacted everyday people.
At The Grind, we weren’t planning an issue for this month. But when the election was called we saw the need to shift focus back to local stories. So we got to work.
This special issue isn’t a typical “election issue” where we follow candidates around on the campaign trail and compare their platforms. And we aren’t going to tell you how to vote.
Instead, we take a close look at how Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government has affected people in the Greater Toronto Area and beyond over the last seven years.
Some people we spoke to used their full names. Others — like Rob, Maggie and Shanice — weren’t comfortable sharing their full names out of fear of recourse. They’re involved in struggles around public education, tenant rights, disability supports and more.
In the following pages, you’ll hear how Doug Ford has impacted them and their communities.
You’ll also find a map of a few of Ford’s biggest flops in the middle spread.
You may notice this special issue is lighter than usual. To get it to you before the election, we had to leave out our arts and culture section and events listing. Don’t worry, though, that will return in full force next issue!
This article appeared in the 2025 Feb issue.
