Ford should be pressing all party leaders for commitments in areas where Ontario will need federal help. There is no shortage of issues

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Who speaks for Ontario in this federal election?

In some provinces, leaders recognize that a federal election is the ideal time to get potential prime ministers to pay attention to their needs. The premiers of Quebec and Alberta certainly haven’t been shy. Not so in Ontario, where Premier Doug Ford has vowed to stay out of the election.

Ford is wise not to pick a side, but surely he should be pressing all party leaders for explicit commitments in areas where Ontario will need federal help. There is no shortage of issues.

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Top of the list is federal support to offset potential tariff damage, especially to Ontario’s auto industry. Just as important, Ontario and the federal government need to figure out if the auto industry has a future without easy access to the U.S. market.

Second is housing. The housing shortage and high prices have made much of Ontario all but unaffordable for those just getting started.

Then there is immigration. Rapidly increasing numbers of newcomers under the Justin Trudeau Liberal government strained Ontario’s health-care system and made its housing shortage worse. The Liberal government also admitted a flood of students, but has since cut the number, throwing the province’s post-secondary sector into turmoil, causing layoffs and program reductions. What does Ontario want from the next government?

Ontario’s passivity is curious because the province has more political power than any other, with 122 of Parliament’s 343 seats. Both Conservative........

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