Ontario election's 1st debate is hours away. Here's what you need to know

Ontario's four major party leaders will be in North Bay on Friday for the first of two live debates ahead of the snap winter election.

• CBC News will have live coverage of the event, which runs from 1-3 p.m. ET. 

Why it matters: Public polling suggests PC Leader Doug Ford has a big lead in the election that he called more than a year early. This is the first time during the campaign that Ford will face his rivals: NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner. 

A second debate will be held on Monday evening in Toronto. CBC News will also bring you that event live. 

Watch: Ahead of the debate, one northern family told CBC News that while the campaign has sounded like "tariffs, tariffs, tariffs," they hope health care will be discussed because that's a huge issue in the region. 

Health care is top of mind for Northern Ontario voters

6 days ago

Duration 2:55

Ontario’s major party leaders are expected to square off in a northern issues debate Friday afternoon. As CBC’s Lorenda Reddekopp reports, a big election issue likely to come up for northern Ontario communities is improving health care.

State of play: Ford has sought to make this election about looming U.S. tariffs — including those on steel products set to take effect in March. The NDP's Stiles is arguing life in Ontario has gotten worse during Ford's seven years in office. Liberal Crombie has focused her campaign on health care, particularly the struggle to find family doctors. Greens Leader Mike Schreiner, meanwhile, holds only two seats in the legislature but has proven to be a fierce Ford critic on the debate stage. 

Ontario's north is vast, beautiful and dominated by two political parties: the PCs and New Democrats. 

• The NDP released a northern-issue specific platform on Thursday that focuses on improving health-care access, cost-of-living issues, Francophone education, highway safety and jobs. 
• The Greens also released a costed platform this week.

The Liberals and PCs have made a number of campaign promises but haven't released official platforms.

• CBC News has launched its platform tracker, so head here to read up on what the top parties are promising

In 2022, the northern debate focused on cost-of-living issues (which remains a top issue in this election), highways and housing.  

The big picture: The opposition have few chances left to put a dent into Ford's lead ahead of the Feb. 27 election.