Ford says Ontario ‘can’t afford’ NDP government
PC leader takes aim at hydro rates, Kathleen Wynne and NDP in Andrea Horwath’s Hamilton riding
PC Leader Doug Ford swung through Hamilton on Thursday evening to rally local supporters during his first campaign stop in the city.
Ford — whose party has come even in the polls with the NDP since the campaign began — drew several hundred supporters during his stop in downtown Hamilton, where he hammered his opponents, promised to reduce hydro rates and posed for pictures with supporters.
“The Liberals and the NDP are at home watching right now, and I can tell you, they are worried,” he said. “When we get into government, they know change is coming — because the days of sticking their hand into your pocket are done. It’s over.”
Ford’s rally drew roughly 250 people to the Lincoln Alexander Centre on King Street East (though a member of Ford’s staff estimated that 300 to 400 people attended).
Ford made no mention of the fact that the rally was held in the heart of Andrea Horwath’s Hamilton Centre
riding, but minced no words when it came to attacking Horwath and Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne.
“We’ve seen how the Liberals have destroyed this province, when they’ve lost 300,000 manufacturing jobs since they’ve been in power — but make no mistake about it — the NDP would be 10 times worse,” he said, garnering a huge round of applause from the crowd.
“I’m sure a lot of you remember the Rae Days. The Rae Days were a nightmare ... we cannot afford an NDP government,” he said.
While the party faithful gathered inside — including city councillor Doug Conley — outside the rally, a crowd of protesters held signs, chanted and made jabs at how the PC candidate hired actors to play supporters outside one of his appearances in Toronto early in the campaign.
The protest, organized by the Hamilton chapter of ACORN Canada, an independent organization of low- and moderate-income families, was borne when the PCs didn’t respond to their questions about rent control, said Lesley Blackburn.
“We have contacted the Conservative Party and we didn’t hear back. We didn’t hear from them until about 10 minutes ago ... we were ignored,” she said.
“The status quo is not working.” Inside the rally, Ford was joined by local candidates Dionne Duncan (Hamilton Centre), Akash Grewal (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek), Ben Levitt (Hamilton West-AncasterDundas), Esther Pauls (Hamilton Mountain) and Donna Skelly (Flamborough-Glanbrook).
During his 20-minute speech — made without notes — Ford didn’t reference any local issues. Hydro was the major recurring theme, with Ford promising repeatedly to lower rates by 12 per cent (though Ford has yet to release a costed platform explaining how his government would handle the resulting revenue gaps).
“The No. 1 issue, everywhere I go, is hydro rates,” he said.
“I hear from every single company, every company I go to, about the astronomical hydro rates: ‘If you don’t get elected with the PC party, we’re out of here.’ That is terrifying. Companies will be leaving by the droves. My friends, we aren’t going to let that happen.”
The evening was capped off with an opportunity for supporters to take their picture with Ford. Many of the evening’s attendees lined up around the room to have their moment with the man they hope will become premier.
“I like what Doug Ford stands for, so we’re here to support him,” said Bruce Luscombe, a resident of the Hamilton Mountain.
“He’s the closest candidate to our values — which is honesty and decency.”