Running scared from the possibility of a Doug Ford government

Vague, neo-conservative politics will pull Ontario backwards

This column is frankly political. My Examiner columns, all 108 of them so far, are usually mildly political, the small-p kind, about communities and volunteers, and the need to define ourselves differently from the malignant regime south of us.

The majority of Canadians sit to the centre-left of the political spectrum . But elections can be strange. So this time around, I am pulling out the stops to alert readers to the dangers coming down the track: a possible Doug Ford premiership. In Ontario, of all places, the sophisticated and multicultural province, and one of the country’s economic engines.

I object to Mr. Ford because of his record, his policies and his personality, that’s all. The defender of his out-of-control brother, the late Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who so embarrassed the city of Toronto nationally and internationally with his bullying, drug use, chauvinism and overall lack of competence.

If this is what a protest vote gets us, let’s try protesting another way.

I challenge Doug Ford and his dangerous brand of politics, because his far-right, neo-conservative, and vague policies and many of his candidates will pull Ontario backwards. This Doug Ford was put into leadership by the religious zealot Tanya Granic Allen, who favours therapy to “cure” LGBTQ people and wanted to ban the enlightened sex ed curriculum in our schools. She once decribed burka-wearing Muslim women as “ninjas.” Not my kind of feminist.

Even though he recently ditched Ms. Granic Allen as candidate in Mississauga, he is beholden to her supporters who put him over Christine Elliott in the leadership race. Ford, I fear, will signal to his base that he will sidle over to some of these views. Maybe on a woman’s right to choose.

I fear he will divide and embitter public discourse. Surely one Ford has been enough, and one Trump too. Recently in TV debates, he patronized Premier Kathleen Wynne with the remark “You have a nice smile.” We women are very wary of such an approach and the men behind it.

Ford recently demonstrated his ignorance of green policy by threatening to open up green space around Toronto for development. Does the man know anything about water supply and healthy food sources?

His practice of restricting media access to his campaign is frightening. He will not allow legitimate reporters on his bus and has hired a onetime “journalist” to do Ford-friendly videos for social media.

Of the 124 seats in the Ontario legislature, he has appointed the Conservative candidates in 11. No public nomination. One is Andrew Layton for London West. Layton has said that climate science is junk. He was once suspended from his Radio 950 AM job for homophobic remarks.

The PCs may be in the lead, but pollsters also say it’s anyone’s election to win. It’s our game now: the reasonable, the conscientious, the concerned, the middle-of the-roaders.

I don’t know why our present premier attracts such disdain. No one has told me a reason, apart from our high provincial debt. It worries me too, but not enough to vote Ford. Employment is up; the unemployment rate is 5.5 per cent. We stand to have a minimum wage of $15 an hour. Ontario’s cap-and-trade (which is a form of carbon pricing) is beginning to cut emissions.

Facts should matter to voters. Voting Ford on a vague feeling of “time for a change” is not sufficient cause to usher in a Trump-lite government for this province.

The sitting government has announced more money for mental health, for child and senior prescriptions, for child care and post-secondary education. These programs are at serious risk in a Ford government.

I’ve been embarrassed in the past by a national leader and by a local member of Parliament. I’m not embarrassed by Kathleen Wynne, I’m proud. Proud too of our local Liberal candidate, the honest and hardworking Jeff Leal.

A lot is at stake as the June 7 election approaches.

Kindly resolve to vote, and drive the percentage who do, above 60 per cent.

‘If this is what a protest vote gets us, let’s try protesting another way’ ROSEMARY GANLEY