Seniors who are already out of the country are trying to figure out how to vote by mail, while those about to leave worry they'll be casting early ballots without a full picture of what the parties are promising at a crucial moment in Ontario's history.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially set a provincial election in motion for Feb. 27, more than a year before the next fixed election date. The election had been set for June 2026, but Ford confirmed last week he would trigger the vote, saying he needs a new mandate to deal with four years of a Donald Trump presidency in the United States.