Rhetoric heats up as campaign enters stretch
NDP pushes nomination allegations, while Liberals target Toronto-area MPP
Another day, another trade-sector nod for Doug Ford's Progressive Conservatives as flecks of mud flew Wednesday on the campaign trail with a week to go before the election.
Pandemic relief for small business, rural support and help to access needed mental health care services were among the issues touted as the campaign hit the home stretch.
The PCS clinched an endorsement from United Association Local 784 (HVAC&R Workers of Ontario), the latest industry group to back the Tories, as the Green and New Democrat leaders returned to personal campaigning after COVID-19 forced them into self-isolation.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath revisited her party's core pledge to improve mental health care in Ontario, speaking with young adults who have had difficulty accessing care.
“There really isn't a system. Depending on if you have enough money, or if you happen to have services in your community, that will determine whether you get the help and supports and therapies that you need,” Horwath said, promising to train more mental health professionals and make therapy publicly funded.
“We can fix the mental health crisis that people are facing in Ontario.”
The Greens, hoping to see more MPPS elected after winning their first seat in 2018, released a targeted plan for Parry Sound-muskoka that involves expanding access to family doctors, revising the provincial funding formula for rural schools and hospitals and boosting public transit in the region.
“We're seeing encouraging signs in terms of the number of Green supporters who have already voted in advance polls,” Leader Mike Schreiner said.
“We know what happened in Guelph in 2018,” he said of the riding he won in the last election, “and we believe we're well-positioned for that to happen in Parry Sound-muskoka in 2022.”
In Toronto, Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca spoke about his party's plan for small businesses, pledging a two-year corporate income tax amnesty for ones hardest-hit by the pandemic. Del Duca also promised more grants for entrepreneurs.
The Liberals and NDP ratcheted up the political mudslinging, with the June 2 election a week away.
The NDP said four people in Chatham-kent-leamington have now come forward alleging they signed the nomination papers for a turfed Grit candidate, not the party's last-minute replacement on the ballot. The NDP alleges the Liberals used the 25 signatures intended for one candidate in the nomination forms of the other, which would violate Elections Ontario rules.
The NDP is asking Del Duca to pull the riding 's Liberal candidate and urging Elections Ontario to expedite its probe.
Del Duca's Liberals called for the OPP to investigate PC candidate Vincent Ke, who the Grits allege had 15 companies incorporated by his staff and their family members and awarded a $25,000 contract to one of the businesses during his time as the Don Valley North MPP.
Ford dismissed the Liberal allegations against Ke as “totally inaccurate” and “desperation” at a campaign stop in Brampton.
We're seeing encouraging signs in terms of the number of Green supporters who have already voted in advance polls.