WYNNE CALLS RIVALS ‘UNYIELDING IDEOLOGUES’

HAMILTON • Kathleen Wynne travelled to the heart of her NDP rival’s riding on Wednesday to portray herself as the only seasoned stateswoman in the election campaign capable of rising above the ideological fray.

At a stop in Hamilton outside a Stelco steel plant, the Liberal premier attacked both NDP Leader Andrea Horwath and PC Leader Doug Ford as unyielding ideologues without the experience to fend off the threat of American steel tariffs.

“On the one end of the spectrum, you have Doug Ford — he’s expressed his admiration for (U.S. President) Donald Trump, despite the chaos, the uncertainty that the Trump administration has caused Ontario,” Wynne said.

“On the other extreme, you have the NDP, who have historically campaigned against free-trade agreements — I would suggest a rigid and impractical position.”

The United States has exempted Canadian steel and aluminum from new tariffs on an interim basis. The exemption is due to expire Friday.

While the federal government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has done much of the heavy lifting to protect the industry in Canada, Wynne played up her own efforts.

“Over the past year, I have met with 37 governors, I have met with senators, I’ve met with congresspeople, I’ve met with senior members of the U.S. administration, all in an attempt to make it clear what our integrated relationship means to workers on both sides of the border,” said Wynne, who has been trailing in recent polls.

Horwath, who portrayed herself as a champion of steel and steelworkers, rejected Wynne’s comments as “trying to stir up some trouble.” Ford did not comment immediately on Wynne’s remarks.