Tories wary as Ford mulls political future
Former city councillor, mayoral candidate seen as ‘double-edged sword’ who may undermine leader
Call it the Ford conundrum.
As Doug Ford promises to finally reveal his political plans for next year, some Progressive Conservatives are quietly looking for a way to talk the controversial ex-councillor out of running for them.
The Tories view Ford as a double-edged sword: they know he is their only hope of winning Liberal-held Etobicoke North, but worry that his shoot-from-the-lip style could undermine leader Patrick Brown’s province-wide campaign in many other ridings next spring.
“We don’t need him talking about how great Donald Trump is in the middle of the campaign; that’s not what Patrick is about,” said one wary PC insider, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations.
Ford said he finds it “comical” that anyone would think the Tories don’t want him to run provincially.
“Never once. Total opposite. (Brown) has encouraged me to run. So has Walied (Soliman, the PC campaign chair) encouraged me to run. I’m welcome to run. They’re encouraging me to run,” he told the Star on Thursday.
“They wouldn’t be doing that, asking me to go out to Sault Ste. Marie with them and door-knock and go out to all these events and speak on behalf of the MPPs and show up at events that he calls me to.”
However, sources say Brown’s inner circle has been quietly working on a strategy that would allow the former one-term city councillor to bow out of a provincial run and still save face so he could take another shot at the Toronto mayoralty next year.
Insiders say a senior Conservative emissary, such as a former premier or cabinet minister, could be asked to approach Ford to explain the problems his candidacy could cause for the rookie PC leader, who plans on running a centrist campaign.
Tories admit the matter is delicate because of the egos involved and the fact they don’t want to alienate Ford, whose late father and namesake was a Tory MPP from 1995 to ’99.
“Doug has been a good soldier; he was in Sault Ste. Marie pulling votes (for the June 1 byelection victory) and helped Raymond (Cho win Scarborough— Rouge River byelection last Sept. 1),” another top PC source said.
Political adviser Nick Kouvalis, who helped put both Doug’s late brother, Rob Ford, and Tory in the mayor’s office, tweeted this week that he expects Doug will announce he’s not running as an MPP.
“I hear the PCs have rejected Doug Ford as a candidate and that is why Doug is rushing to save face before they publicly disallow him,” he said on Twitter.
The two men are not on good terms despite their history together on Rob Ford’s victorious 2010 campaign.
“Ford plays all for fools,” Kouvalis said in another tweet. “Announcing that he’s not running for MPP allows media to speculate for months about mayoralty. He craves attention.”
Asked about that, Ford said: “That’s just Nick playing political games.”
“I don’t buy all the Tory insider crap. I can guarantee you one thing: I have great respect for Patrick. I’ve been working my back off for him and the public ever since he’s been elected. And he’s going to be the next premier,” Ford said.
Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals are hoping the outspoken Ford runs provincially, because they will use any of his pro-Trump statements, or other outrageous claims, to taint Brown.
A cornerstone of Wynne’s June 7, 2018 re-election bid is to tie the Conservatives to the increasingly unpopular U.S. president.
“We think it’s only fair to remind voters of what change for the sake of change can look like,” said one Liberal insider, speaking on background to discuss the party’s plans.
Wynne, herself, outlined that Trumpcentric strategy in a major speech Apr. 24.
“We cannot simply assume that President Trump will do the right thing or make the right choices,” she warned.
However, linking Brown to Trump in the minds of Ontarians is easier for the Liberals if a candidate such as Ford is on the ticket.
Agriculture Minister Jeff Leal beamed when asked at Queen’s Park of Thursday about that prospect.
“I know the leader of the opposition will expect Mr. Ford to abide by whatever platform elements that the leader of the opposition wants to talk about during an election campaign,” said Leal.
“You’re always, every day, responsible for the comments you make during a campaign; it’s a team game.”
Health Minister Eric Hoskins noted that Brown may have enough challenges already since he has yet to tell Ontarians what he would do if elected.
“Patrick has sufficient deficiencies in terms of his lack of policy that he’s been able to articulate,” said Hoskins, suggesting Ford could have an impact on this perceived challenge.
“There may be other individuals that, if he can attract (them) to his campaign, that may sway things one way or the other.”
Ford, 52, has always said his other option was an attempt to return to Toronto City Hall.
But political observers believe Ford would face an uphill battle in a rematch against the still popular incumbent, who is seeking a second term. Ford, naturally, doesn’t see it that way. “I’m the only guy in the entire country who can give him a run for his money.”
Tory has brushed aside any threat Ford’s candidacy may pose.
In 2014, Tory captured 394,775 votes compared to Ford’s 330,610.
Ford says he’ll announce his future plans at his family’s semi-regular Ford Fest barbecue next Friday in Etobicoke.