Ford government prepares for ‘caretaker mode’ ahead of early election call

Political unit successful Premier Doug Ford’s authorities person been told to hole for “caretaker mode” arsenic the Progressive Conservative enactment appears acceptable to flip the power connected an imminent aboriginal predetermination call.

An interior memo, sent by Ford’s Chief of Staff Patrick Sackville connected Wednesday, indicated that the premier’s bureau has already consulted with Ontario’s Integrity Commissioner related to the government’s “responsibilities during a writ,” arsenic the PC enactment prepares to dissolve the legislature.

Sackville besides instructed unit connected what a slimmed-down ministry should look similar erstwhile the government’s determination making authorization is temporarily paused, and provincial responsibilities are handed implicit to the civilian work during the predetermination period.

“A fig of you person asked astir caretaker provisions and responsibilities should determination beryllium a provincial election,” Sackville wrote successful the email, moments aft canceling a gathering with all-government chiefs of staff.

“Your Minister’s Office caretaker squad should beryllium astatine slightest 1 idiosyncratic and nary greater than 2 persons,” the memo noted. “This idiosyncratic oregon individuals should beryllium guided by your assurance successful their nonrecreational competency and their adjacent moving narration with the Premier’s Office and DMO (deputy minister’s office).”

Caretaker staff, Sackville said, won’t beryllium allowed to marque caller decisions connected behalf of the Ford government, but volition beryllium allowed to marque “business arsenic usual” determinations connected behalf of the ministry to guarantee that “contrary decisions are stopped” and that immoderate actions are “aligned with furniture direction.”

Sackville asked chiefs of unit to supply a database of the caretaker unit “over the coming days.”

The memo was issued arsenic Ford told reporters to “stay tuned” erstwhile asked if his authorities would trigger an predetermination arsenic aboriginal arsenic Jan. 29.

Ford’s bureau has been progressively focused connected mounting the signifier for an aboriginal predetermination claiming the authorities needs a “loud voice” and a “stronger mandate” to conflict the U.S. President Donald Trump’s threatened tariffs.

The government, however, has besides acknowledged Ottawa is yet liable for the bulk of the response, including the exertion of counter-tariffs and borderline information measures.

“The national authorities has the pen and we proceed to proviso the ink,” Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli told reporters connected Wednesday.

Nevertheless, the PC enactment is looking to instrumentality vantage of Ford’s ‘Captain Canada’ persona by making the tariff effect cardinal to an predetermination campaign.

Ford is scheduled to pb a associated ngo to Washington connected Feb. 12 to lobby American lawmakers on with different premiers. A 2nd travel to be the yearly gathering of the National Governors Association connected Feb. 20 is besides a possibility.

It’s unclear, however, however those trips would beryllium viewed nether the caretaker provision.

According to a 2018 memo from then-Secretary of Cabinet Steve Orsini, portion furniture ministers clasp the “rights, privileges and responsibilities of their bureau during and aft an election,” they are constricted successful their usage and indispensable beryllium “exercised successful accordance with the caretaker relation of government.”

“Ministers volition beryllium asked to workout attraction and debar immoderate cognition that they are utilizing their ministerial offices, resources oregon portfolios for governmental purposes,” the 2018 pre-election memo cautioned. “While astir authorities events are postponed during the predetermination period, should immoderate specified lawsuit beryllium approved to proceed during this time, Ministers and Parliamentary Assistants volition beryllium advised not to attend.”

The memo added that portion immoderate circumstances – specified arsenic a provincial emergency, nationalist oregon planetary lawsuit – could necessitate a minister’s involvement, that should beryllium constricted to a “statement by the premier oregon a liable minister.”