Ford pleads for unity after ‘divisive’ campaign

‘Emotions have run high as candidates ... debated pandemic policies’

Premier Doug Ford, who made a point of remaining neutral in the federal election, is calling for unity after “an extremely difficult and divisive” campaign.

The Progressive Conservative premier specifically forbade his cabinet ministers and senior staff from helping Erin O’Toole’s Conservatives in Monday’s election.

He also ensured there was a de facto truce with the federal Liberals, his partners during the COVID-19 pandemic, and is currently negotiating an agreement with Ottawa on $10-a-day child care.

“There was no percentage in us getting involved,” a senior PC official said Tuesday, speaking confidentially in order to discuss political strategy.

“Ontario and the federal government need one another and need to work together. There is a lot of commonality and a mutual benefit to working together,” said the Tory.

Indeed, Ford tried to strike a statesmanlike tone in his postelection comments.

“I want to congratulate Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on his re-election and congratulate all federal leaders who campaigned across Canada to ensure Canadians’ voices were heard on the important issues facing this country,” the premier said Tuesday.

“COVID-19 doesn’t care about partisanship or politics and I will continue to work closely with the prime minister. People elected our government to work in the best interests of Ontario, not in service of one political party over others,” said Ford.

“For many, this has been an extremely difficult and divisive election and I would like to take this opportunity to urge unity. Emotions have run high as candidates from all parties debated pandemic policies, including vaccine certificates,” he said.

That was a reminder to Ontario voters, who go to the polls for a provincial election on June 2, that Ford differed from O’Toole over vaccine mandates.

While the federal leader refused to even say how many of his candidates were vaccinated, the provincial Tories forced MPPs and candidates to get their shots or be ejected from the party. Veteran MPP Rick Nicholls was defenestrated on Aug, 19.

“Ontario is set to introduce its own vaccine certificate this Wednesday to enter certain higher-risk businesses and settings,” said the premier, who had initially opposed such measures, but announced them after Trudeau publicly urged him to do so earlier this month.

“There are a lot of people who are concerned about this policy and I want you to know that I hear you. I understand your concerns about protecting your civil liberties and right to privacy,” said Ford.

“While many fully vaccinated people like myself share these concerns, the greater concern is having to shut down again or experience a sudden surge in cases like in Alberta and Saskatchewan.”

Both Western provinces have been plunged into public health emergencies during the fourth wave of COVID-19 that Ontario has avoided.