Premier Doug Ford launches premier re-election campaign in Windsor, Ont.

Doug Ford is in town as he kicks off his election campaign. CTV Windsor’s Bob Bellacicco has more.

Doug Ford ended his campaign launch in Windsor, Ont. Wednesday morning with the closing statement, “together we will protect Ontario.”

Ford feels he is the man to take the province forward and would like another four years as Premier to prove it. Launching his campaign Wednesday, Ford used the Ambassador Bridge as his backdrop.

“The bigger the mandate I receive from you, the better we’ll be able to protect our province because this is a game to the president,” he said.

Ford referenced the tariff threat from U.S. president Donald Trump and said whether tariffs are imposed on Feb. 1 or later down the line, the threat of Trump won’t go away.

“At a time when the federal government has left Canada drifting, exposed and vulnerable, President Trump will use every day he’s in office to exploit any weakness he can find,” said Ford who has not met Trump in person, but is ready to take action against imposed tariffs.

“We’ll continue to make the case to our American allies that we’re so much stronger together. We’ll also be ready to do whatever is necessary to stand up for and protect Ontario, our workers, businesses, communities. Make no mistake, Ontario won’t start a fight with the U.S., but you better believe we’ll be ready to win one.”

While the PC nominee for Windsor-West, Tony Francis, declined to speak to media, incumbent Andrew Dowie wants to continue to represent Windsor-Tecumseh. He said there are many irons in the fire and many projects to move along.

“Now we’re seeing the light, the tunnel,” Dowie told reporters.

“We’re going to see shovels digging this year (at the new site of the region’s new hospital) and we’re going to see that building coming up next year, so I’m quite excited about that. You’re seeing Highway 3 continuing to be built.”

Meanwhile, local union leader Mario Spagnuolo said the threat of tariffs is just a distraction.

“He had the mandate to fight the tariffs, and he had the opposition parties with him that would have supported him in that argument with Donald Trump, so that’s a distraction for the public from the real issues,” said Spagnuolo.

The local president of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) said the real issues are the cuts to public education and public healthcare.

“He comes here to say that we should give him another mandate, because he’s doing such great things for the province of Ontario,” said Spagnuolo.

“There’s been a line up in some of the cities, lineups to get family doctors. We have kids with autism, they can’t get the services that they need.”