Doug Ford warns re-elected PM Justin Trudeau that he will be on 'front line' making sure he keeps promises
One month after criticizing Justin Trudeau for calling an “unnecessary election” during the fourth wave of the pandemic, Ontario Premier Doug Ford congratulated the newly re-elected prime minister, adding that he will be on the “front line” making sure he fulfills his campaign promises.
“[The candidates] each fought hard for what you believe in, representing the diverse views of millions of Canadians,” the premier said at the beginning of a news conference on Wednesday.
“But after a difficult and divisive campaign … Now is the time to put our political differences aside and focus on the task at hand, navigating through this fourth wave of COVID-19.”
Ford said that he has spoken with Trudeau and that he will be working to make sure he keeps his election promises to the people of Ontario.
“Make no mistake about it, I’m going to be right in the front line of making sure that all those promises he’s committed to, he fulfills them.”
Some strategists have argued that with Trudeau back in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ford’s chances of re-election just got a bit easier.
“Ontario has a unique history of voting one way federally and another way provincially,” Conservative strategist Kayla Ilafelice told CTV News Toronto.
“When Doug Ford has an opponent at the federal level, it makes his job a lot easier.”
When Stephen Harper was in power at Parliament, voters in Ontario tapped Liberals Dalton McGuinty and Kathleen Wynne to lead, but soon after the Trudeau government was elected in 2015, Ontarians turned to the Progressive Conservatives.
Ilafelice says that the opposition could give Ford some “traction in terms of his popularity.”
The next Ontario election is slated for June 2022.
WHERE HAS FORD BEEN OVER THE PAST MONTH?
Ford, who is the leader of Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party, has been relatively silent since the writ dropped on Aug. 15, with the exception of a single news conference on Sept. 1 in which he blamed the election for the province’s delay in implementing a vaccine certificate program.
After making the comments, which some have argued were political in nature, Ford said that he would not get involved in the federal election.
On Wednesday, his first news conference since Sept. 1, Ford reiterated that he has been absent from the public eye for that reason.
“I didn't want to get involved in this federal election,” Ford said at Queen’s Park.
In the meantime, Ford said he has been working “around the clock” in Ontario’s fight against COVID-19.
“We're making sure that we're fighting the fourth wave , making sure we are taking care of the people, making sure hospital capacity is up to par and helping people, but there is not one day I stopped, I go 24/7,” he said.
Health Minister Christine Elliott was asked about the premier’s whereabouts during a news conference last week, to which she replied he had “been around.”
Although the federal election was held on Monday, the Ontario legislature is still prorogued until Oct. 4 and there are no apparent plans to return to Queen’s Park any sooner.
With files from Queen’s Park Bureau Chief Colin D’Mello
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cyclist issued fine for striking four-year-old girl crossing the street
A cyclist turned herself in and received a fine after striking a four-year-old girl who was crossing the street to catch a school bus.
Protest encampment cleared by Edmonton police early Saturday morning
A protest encampment set up on the University of Alberta campus was cleared early Saturday morning by Edmonton police.
'We have no judge for you': Man's assault charges dropped weeks before trial due to lack of judges in Toronto
A man who was accused of sexually and physically assaulting a woman had his charges dropped in April, just weeks before he was set to stand trial in Toronto, due to a lack of judges in the region.
Millions of Canadians have been exposed to potentially toxic chemicals, and they're not going anywhere
For decades, North Bay, Ontario's water supply has harboured chemicals associated with liver and developmental issues, cancer and complications with pregnancy. It's far from the only city with that problem.
Dutch contestant kicked out of Eurovision hours before tension-plagued song contest final
The Netherlands' contestant in the Eurovision Song Contest was dramatically expelled from competition hours before Saturday's final of the pan-continental pop competition, which has been rattled by protests over the participation of Israel.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Out-of-control wildfire prompts evacuation alert for Fort McMurray, Saprae Creek Estates Friday night
An evacuation alert was issued for two Wood Buffalo communities Friday night, as crews battled an out-of-control wildfire near Fort McMurray.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
IN PHOTOS Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Mildmay, Collingwood and St. Thomas, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.