Battleground Burlington: Riding pulling in leaders
BURLINGTON — This city has become a key battleground in the race to become Ontario’s next premier.
Both Conservative Leader Doug Ford and NDP Leader Andrea Horwath visited Burlington in the final hours of a gruelling election campaign, signalling that both parties think they can take the riding — a key piece of the seat-rich 905 area.
Ford held a brief news conference in a hotel on the Burlington/ Oakville border Wednesday, encouraging his supporters to choose him over his rivals.
“When it comes to our team, our party is ready to govern on Day One. We have a responsible and modest plan, and a team of all-star candidates right across this province — the best team Ontario has ever seen,” he said.
Ford’s staffers wouldn’t allow local reporters to ask any questions. PC staffer Jeff Silverstein, a former journalist who has acted as press secretary for both Ford and his brother Rob, allowed reporters from larger media outlets to cut in front of local reporters, then refused to take any further questions.
Ford made one other stop in the Hamilton-Burlington area during the four-week campaign: a rally in downtown Hamilton on
May 24.
Ford hasn’t done any one-onone interviews with any media outlets since the campaign began May 9.
“I look forward to sitting down with every single media outlet. It will start once we get elected, if we’re fortunate enough to get elected,” he said. “I take nothing
for granted.”
Burlington has been represented by Liberal Eleanor McMahon since 2014. It was a Conservative stronghold for 71 years before that. Former Progressive Conservative MPP Jane McKenna (2011-2014) has a good chance of retaking it, but New Democratic Party candidate
Andrew Drummond says he is polling in second place just behind McKenna.
Horwath spoke to the media Tuesday night at Drummond’s campaign office. “There are lots of questions around Mr. Ford,” she said. “In ridings like Burlington, I don’t think people like that kind of leadership. I don’t think they want to see that kind of premier in the premier’s chair, so that gives Andrew a very good opportunity.”
Premier Kathleen Wynne, who is trailing behind her rivals in the polls, was also in the city of Burlington Wednesday night. The Liberal leader stopped at the Appleby Line campaign office of Alvin Tedjo. He is the party’s candidate in the riding next door to the riding of Burlington, Oakville North-Burlington. McMahon attended the event.