‘Job isn’t done,’ Ford tells rally
Protesters brave storm before leader speaks to PC faithful at Bingemans
Amid waving signs and chants of “Dougie, Dougie” and “Get it done” filling the room, Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford rallied supporters at a Friday evening stop in Kitchener.
With less than a week to go until Thursday’s provincial election, Ford delivered an energetic but brief — less than seven minute — speech to a crowd of about 200 at Bingemans.
“The momentum that we have right now is absolutely incredible,” he said.
“Our message is getting out there and the people are excited.”
Ford ran through a long list of platform promises on topics ranging from northern mining and electric vehicles to health care, home building and post-secondary education.
A few of the pledges tailored to his Waterloo Region audience garnered cheers and applause.
“We’re saying yes to the new Highway 7,” he said. “And yes to the largest investment in public transit in Canadian history, including bringing all-day, two-way, 15-minute GO train service to Kitchener-Waterloo.”
Ford also committed to expanding Grand River and St. Mary’s General hospitals.
“Four years ago, you put your trust in me in serving as your premier, getting up each and every day, working for you,” he said.
“It’s been the greatest honour, the greatest privilege of my entire life, and tonight, I’m here to earn your support once again because the job isn’t done.”
After his remarks, guests were invited to line up to have a photo taken with Ford.
More than an hour before he took the stage, a small but dedicated group of protesters stood in a driving thunderstorm at the main entrance to Bingemans, waving flags and holding signs of their own.
Some were there on behalf of the Ontario Nurses’ Association, while other local citizens concerned with the Ford government’s record on environment and climate issues had also planned to attend.
“There just hasn’t been enough focus on Doug Ford’s environmental crimes, the fact that his cancellations of climate action programs cost Ontarians hundreds of millions of dollars, while Ontarians meanwhile have had to pay millions to clean up the floods, fires, and storm damage caused by our rapidly changing climate,” Kae Elgie said in a release.
“People have been consistently concerned by the actions of this provincial government be it their dismal environmental record, their poor handling of the pandemic, attacks on health care, the privatization of essential services, cutting important funding for education, or ignoring climate change,” Kevin Thomason added.
A handful of Waterloo Regional Police officers, including members of the tactical unit, watched the protesters at the main driveway entrance from nearby vehicles.
At least one protester was arrested on Thursday at a Ford rally at the Hamilton airport.
Ford started his day in Oakville before travelling to BrantfordBrant; an early-evening Friday stop initially planned at a restaurant on Victoria Street North in Breslau was cancelled.
Ford was in Kitchener earlier this month, on May 12, when he and his team made an election campaign stop at Canadian Energy Strategies.
People have been consistently concerned by the actions of this provincial government.
KEVIN THOMASON