Ontario Premier Doug Ford is scheduled to meet with Lieutenant Governor on Tuesday afternoon.

Elizabeth Dowdeswell officially begins the local election period. She is likely to accept his recommendation to dissolve the provincial parliament, after which the official orders for the provincial elections can be signed.

The election campaign is expected to begin on Wednesday for the June 2 election. Politicians have already been unofficially campaigning for weeks, with two of the three major parties having launched their platforms.

Polls at this stage indicate that the Progressive Conservatives are on the verge of re-election, with the Liberals who are in third place likely to surpass the NDP to form the official opposition.

However, NDP leader Andrea Horwath confirmed on Tuesday that her party is the best bet for what she calls the “number one job” – defeating Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives.

At an event held in Toronto, Horwath pointed out that her party formed the official opposition in the legislature in 2018, while the Liberals are entering the race this time with only seven seats.

She also highlighted her party’s promises regarding coverage of mental health services under the OHIP program, hiring more healthcare workers, and providing more affordable housing as priorities for the upcoming campaign.

She said, “We know that the things that matter most to people can be addressed if we come together this time and make sure to defeat Doug Ford by voting for the NDP.”

Liberal leader Steven Del Duca said Ford and Horwath “seem to be on the same page” as both targeted him with attacks, including each side running anti-Del Duca ads last year.

Del Duca said, “I will focus on 15 million people, what they need and what they’re looking for, and we will be one hand, as we emerge from this pandemic for the quality of life I believe they deserve.”

Although voting is scheduled for June 2, Ontario elections are encouraging residents to vote early this year in hopes of reducing polling station crowds amid the pandemic.

Ontario elections also launched a new app, which will allow voters to set their polling locations, view candidate information, voting method options, and receive notifications when a new candidate registers. It also provides an electronic version of the full voter information card complete with a barcode.