Election ducks are in a row

And the rhetoric is ramping up

ABOVE THE FOLD

Loads of action this week as Ontario plunges into a snap campaign. Premier DOUG FORD will meet with the Lieutenant Governor this afternoon and issue the writ for tomorrow. Government announcements are flying out the door, candidates are lining up, and party leaders are sharpening their knives while the parties make bold pitches for votes. Let’s get to it.

SCOOP — Hint, hint: Campaign rhetoric is also intensifying, and one slogan in particular keeps coming up in Tory circles: “Protect Ontario.” Rumour has it that that could be the PCs’ campaign catchphrase, which lines up with Ford’s rationale that he needs a new mandate to deal with a bubbling tariff war south of the border.

Firing the starter pistol: We’ve been on the unofficial campaign trail for months, but today it’s officially official. Ford will head to Lieutenant Governor EDITH DUMONT’s suite at 2 p.m. this afternoon to draw up the election writ for Wednesday.

Busy day: Ford is also holding an 11:30 a.m. presser al…