Here’s Doug Ford’s Ontario election victory speech and plans for his third term

Doug Ford was re-elected for his third term as Premier of Ontario on Thursday night, evoking mixed reactions across the province.

The Progressive Conservative (PC) party’s third consecutive majority victory is certainly a rare one — a feat not seen since 1959 — and also took place during the first winter election the province has had in 44 years.

Despite public uproar regarding Ford’s many scandals over his tenure, only 45 per cent of eligible residents turned out to have their say in the snap vote, which was called just 29 days prior to election day.

The result was disappointing to many in downtown Toronto, which appears on result maps as a mosaic of NDP orange and Liberal red amid the sea of PC blue that dominated the vast majority of the rest of southern Ontario.

Greeting his constituents right after the win, Ford, jubilant and relieved, repeatedly thanked the crowd for their cheers and applause before commenting on the evening.

“Together, we have made history. Together, we have secured a strong, historic third majority mandate — a mandate to protect Ontario. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for being here, for sharing this incredible moment with me. To the thousands of volunteers right across this province who braved the cold, who knocked on over two million doors: Tonight belongs to you. Thank you,” he began.

He went on to give thanks to his family for their unwavering support, as well as his opposition, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, Ontario Green party Leader Mike Schreiner, and “every single person who put their name on a ballot.”

“We can we can disagree on policy, but there’s no question, no question at all: each one of them loves our province, and each one of them loves Canada, the greatest country on Earth,” he continued, appearing to take a tip from U.S. President and tariff wielder Donald Trump, who regularly refers to his own nation “the greatest,” “the best” and “the most powerful.”

“Democracy only works if people are willing to step up and step forward. Our province is stronger because of your decision to do so. So I want to thank all the candidates.”

Ford then touched on his past term, touting how he has always been and always will be willing to work with “anyone and everyone” to get things accomplished for the province.

Much of his address revolved around the looming economic threat of U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, now set to go into place on March 4, as well as Trump’s other displays of disrespect toward its neighbour to the north.

He also reiterated his perennial promises of bringing economic prosperity and getting the province moving and working, which some would argue have fallen flat during his time as leader, with Ontario’s unemployment rate now at a brutal 7.6 per cent and progressively more people defaulting on bills.

The remainder of Doug Ford’s victory speech, in full

“During my time in office, I hope I’ve proven, I will work with anyone — I will work with everyone — to get things done.  Now as we stare down the threat of Donald Trump’s tariffs, I will continue to do just that. I will work with every level of government, and every political stripe. Because fighting back against Donald Trump, standing up for Canada, it will take a full team Ontario effort [and] it will take a full Team Canada effort.”

“Friends, over the last seven years, we have made so much progress together. Over one million more people are working today than when we were elected in 2018.”

“We’ve attracted over $70 billion in new investments into our economy, in new auto and battery plants in our manufacturing sector, in new life science facilities in Ontario’s growing tech sector. Now, together, we have to fight hard to protect our progress.”

“This election, we asked the people for a mandate, a strong mandate that outlives and outlasts the Trump administration, a mandate to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario. Well, friends, the people have spoken. They’re ready to stand up for Canada.”

“This election, we asked the people for a mandate to make Ontario the most competitive place in the G7 to invest, create jobs and do business. The people said yes. We asked the people for a mandate to unleash the awesome economic potential of the Ring of Fire. The people said yes.”

“We asked the people for a mandate to build up our economy by tearing down internal trade barriers, and the people said yes. We asked the people for a mandate to cut red tape and the excuses, streamline approvals and build things faster. The people said yes.”

“We asked the people for a mandate to get the federal government out of our way so we can get shovels in the ground on the projects that will build the True North strong and free. The people said yes. We asked the people for a mandate to build pipelines, to build rail lines and transmission lines, to diversify our trade, find new markets, new customers, and rely less on the old ones. The people said yes.”

“We asked the people for a mandate to clean up our streets, crack down on crime, end encampments and protect schools and daycares from drug injection sites. The people said yes.”

“And we asked the people for a mandate to build Highway 413, the Bradford Bypass, Highway 3, Highway 7, Highway 11, Highway 69, to bring sanity back to bike lanes, to tunnel the 401, to upload Ottawa LRT and build the future of GO Transit across the Greater Toronto Area. The people said yes.”

“This is our plan to protect Ontario. It’s a plan that offers big and bold ideas. It’s a vision for the future of our great province and a vision for the future of our economy.”

“Ontario is blessed with everything we need to succeed: the best and most skilled workers anywhere in the world, a pipeline of world class talent (with 70,000 STEM graduates each and every single year), northern Ontario’s enormous God-given potential offering every critical mineral the world wants and needs, and one of the cleanest, greenest grids in the world, with the first small modular nuclear reactor in the G7.”

“You know, folks, it’s no wonder the world has their eyes on us: they’re looking at Ontario with envy. Now, it’s up to us to unlock our potential, roll up our sleeves to get to work. We’ll retrain workers for better jobs and bigger paychecks. We’ll retool companies for new customers and new markets. We’ll re-shore supply chains to bring good jobs back home. We’ll rebuild roads and highways to keep people working and keep our economy competitive.”

“Friends, this election, we promise to do whatever it takes to protect Ontario, and I’m so proud of the support we received. Together, we made more inroads into new communities, with more people seeing themselves reflected in our party, in our priorities.”

“A record number of unions, including first time supporters, like first time supporters like our great firefighters, our great police, UNIFOR locals, hospitality workers and more trade unions; mayors from every region of Ontario; and everyday hard-working people in Thunder Bay, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie, in Eastern Ontario, Hamilton and Windsor, in Brampton and Mississauga.”

“Your support is truly humbling. I will never, ever take it for granted. I will never stop working for you, because we’re in a battle for the future of our province, for the future of our country.”

“I promise you this, I will wake up every day and I will fight like I’ve never fought before. I will fight for every auto worker in Windsor, Woodstock, St. Thomas and Oakville in Brampton, Ingersoll, Oshawa, Alliston and Cambridge. I will fight for every miner in Timmins, Thunder Bay and Sudbury. I will fight for every steel maker in Sault Ste. Marie Nanticoke and Hamilton.”

“I will fight for every worker on the factory floor, every student starting their career and every senior starting their retirement. I will fight for First Nations communities, for newcomers, for everyone in Ontario looking to get ahead. I will fight for you.”

“This election was about who we are, about the future we choose for ourselves. Donald Trump thinks he can break us. He thinks he can divide and conquer, pit region against region. Donald Trump doesn’t know what we know. He is underestimating us: he is underestimating the resilience of the Canadian people, the Canadian spirit.”

“Make no mistake, Canada won’t start a fight with the U.S., but you’d better believe we’re ready to win one. Let me be clear, Canada will never, ever be the 51st state, and Canada is not for sale.”

“Over the last weeks and months, I’ve seen the best of our province, the best of our country, hard working people standing up for what’s decent, for what’s right. It’s you, the people, who will get us through this, who will fight for our future. Together, we’re going to emerge from this stronger and more united than ever before.”

“From coast to coast to coast, we’re going to stand together, we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight for our province, we’re going to fight for our country. Together, we’re going to protect Ontario. I want to thank you, and may God bless the people of Canada, may God bless the people of Ontario. Thank you.”