Ford takes wheel of Ont.
NEW PREMIER TO SCRUTINIZE PROVINCE’S BOOKS
Doug Ford said Friday he’s working with Ontario’s outgoing Liberals to ensure a smooth transition to power — a process he said would take three weeks, involve the help of those who’ve worked at the federal level and see the formation of a strong Progressive Conservative cabinet.
The premier-designate, who secured a majority a day earlier with a slew of populist promises, said his first order of business would be to scrutinize the province’s books.
“We have to see the financial situation that’s been left behind, and over the next couple days and weeks you’re going to hear from us, but the most important thing is getting our fiscal house in order,” Ford said. “We’ll be out looking for an auditing firm to go into the province to go line item by line item. I always believe in third party validation.”
Once the audit is complete, Ford said he planned to address many of the promises he made during the election campaign, including lowering taxes, cutting hydro rates, and eliminating the cap-and-trade system.
Ford’s transition team, which will help him segue into power over 21 days, includes former Conservative MP John Baird, a past chief of staff in former prime minister Stephen Harper’s government, and an executive at the Ford family business.
“We have already hit the ground running,” Ford said. “We have begun work right away on setting up the premier’s office, establishing a cabinet and implementing the machinery of a new government.”
Ontario’s lieutenant-governor met with Ford on Friday afternoon, inviting him to form government.
The Tories secured 76 ridings, the NDP got 40 and the Liberals were reduced to seven seats in Thursday’s vote. Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner captured the party’s first-ever seat in Ontario.
The NDP’s position as the Official Opposition marks a turnaround for the party consistently stuck in third place since Bob Rae’s New Democratic government was defeated in 1995. Party leader Andrea Horwath said Friday that Ontarians have chosen her New Democrats to keep Ford accountable.
“Our ideas are quite different and Mr. Ford’s plan to cut all those taxes for the richest people in Ontario is going to put a big hole in our finances,” she said. “I’m hopeful that Mr. Ford understands that we need revenues in our province to pay for the kinds of things that people expect a government to provide.”