Doug Ford launches run for Ontario PC leadership
Polarizing politician Doug Ford officially launched his bid to lead Ontario’s Progressive Conservative Party with a rally in Toronto Saturday night, where he outlined his platform in the race’s first campaign rally.
Ford promised to keep taxes low, attract more business to the province, and reject a federally imposed carbon tax if elected as the next premier of Ontario.
“I will not support policies and taxes that make life more expensive,” Ford told a crowd of cheering supporters.
“And if the Prime Minister tries to make us — well, in the words of his father — ‘Just watch me.”’
The former Toronto city councillor also attacked current Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne, criticizing what he called a disastrous energy policy, vanishing manufacturing jobs and rising taxes and costs in the province.
“The stakes have never been higher,” said Ford.
“People across Ontario are suffocating under the weight of high taxes and big government.”
A last-minute race to elect a new leader of the PC party was triggered last month, after the abrupt resignation of previous leader Patrick Brown amid allegations of sexual misconduct.
Ford, who was the first to announce his candidacy, says it’s time to wrest control of the party from “elites” and speak up for people he feels have been shortchanged by Wynne’s government.