Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to lead his party to a fourth majority government as he touted his ability to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump during a speech to the party faithful that sought to highlight the Progressive Conservatives’ record after nearly eight years in power.
The speech at the PC convention on Saturday was initially closed to media, but the party later reversed course after significant backlash and accusations of secrecy. However, the bulk of the three-day convention at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke, including sessions on campaign strategy and fundraising and a “fireside chat” with the Premier and party members, were still off limits to reporters.
Both the federal Conservatives and provincial Tories held conventions this weekend, with federal Leader Pierre Poilievre winning a crucial leadership vote with a resounding 87.4 per cent. Mr. Ford – having won three back-to-back majorities – was not facing any such test, and the PC event was a more low-key and closed-off affair.
Mr. Ford, during a speech to about 1,000 people at a “Dinner with the Leader” on Saturday evening, thanked the membership and said he hopes to be at the helm of his party for a fourth term.
“You’re helping us build a stronger, more united PC Party – a party that will continue to work for the people, and a party that I look forward to leading to win a historic, fourth majority mandate with your help in the next election,” Mr. Ford said in prepared remarks.
Claiming the previous Liberal government “left Ontario in shambles,” Mr. Ford said the Progressive Conservatives are standing up to the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration.
“Despite President Trump’s tariffs and threats, we are building a province that is more resilient, self-reliant and competitive than ever before,” Mr. Ford said.
The Premier later also echoed his “Team Canada” message – one that faltered in recent weeks when Mr. Ford publicly criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney’s auto agreement with China.
“We are working as part of a strong, united Team Canada, to stand up to President Trump, protect Ontario, and protect the true north strong and free,” Mr. Ford said.
PythonEntusiast on
Ontarians gotta be the most stupidest individuals in the world if they reelect Ford.
nickiatro on
He has done nothing, but line his pockets and further impoverish the people of Ontario.
Ontario is a very difficult place to live in financially and he’s done absolutely nothing to make that better.
That being said, this is Ontario we’re talking about, so he’ll win a massive majority again…
olderdeafguy1 on
Unless there is a miracle, there will be little opposition from the Liberals or NDP.
Immediate_Buffalo14 on
Hopefully not so soon after the last election, though. Even his recent early election call ended up costing him seats compared to the majority he already had.
Stevko_1 on
I prefer a real conservative. Not a poser
ConsciousCoat8173 on
All things considered Ford and Carney seem to have a respect for each other and work well together. The Liberals and NDP continue to run wet socks as candidates. Ford will (and should) absolutely clean up in the next election unless one of those two things changed.
I am a Torontonian who uses bike lanes every day and lives 15 minutes away from the science centre.
Mrdingus6969 on
Can we get a new OPC leader seriously
DOUGER1970 on
No thanks Dougie
t0mless on
Please god no
lostan on
i love Doug. hes so dumb and cuddly hes like a giant demented panda.
ThicccThunder on
Yet Ontario will still vote for him
blazyo88 on
Premier for life !
Foreign-Policy-02- on
Doug ford is the right guy at the right time with a world view understanding that is simply incomparable
PeanutButterViking on
For the first time in my life I would probably just not vote or spoil my ballot.
adwrx on
This guy need to leave now!
UnculturedSwineFlu on
What has he done for the benefit of Ontario? Like… seriously. Anything?
rraj2k81 on
Well why wouldn’t he ??
Goes on vacation most of the year, and the rest of the time makes back room shady deals to line his pockets without taking any accountability or being held accountable.
Could any one ask for a more cushier job !!
Warm_Revolution7894 on
And he will get it as well
besthuman on
Please, anyone with a pulse and half a brain cell, anyone at all who can actually get name recognition… anyone else? Ugh… come on Libs.
Expensive_Plant_9530 on
The sad reality is that many Ontarians will vote for the OPC, and thereby Ford, despite complaining about many of the things he has done.
Everyone needs to come out in force to vote. Do your part, for whichever party you happen to support.
There is another choice other than continuing with Ford’s disasters.
roscomikotrain on
Career politicians are some of the most vile creatures on the planet
sliceofpizzaxd on
The OLP and ONDP need to step up their game and actually give people a reason to vote for them other than not being Ford.
I still voted strategically against Ford last election, but more than half the province didn’t vote at all.
You should still vote against Ford next election if you live in Ontario, but I can’t blame people for being too apathetic when the only other options do such a piss poor job at campaigning.
How exactly will you reduce grocery prices? How exactly will you improve our infrastructure? How exactly will you tackle the climate crisis? The unemployment crisis? The housing crisis?
The OLP and ONDP’s campaign ads I saw didn’t mention a single policy. Barely anyone even knew their leaders’ names before the election. Even their websites didn’t have their platform on it until less than a week before election day.
If anyone from those parties reads this, please propose actual policies that you genuinely believe in and that help the majority of this province, and please include those in your campaign ads from the very start.
TheOneOak on
Next election is a long way off
gwelfguy on
Is it a coincidence that this comes right after Poilievre overwhelmingly passes a leadership review of the federal Conservatives? Any designs he may have had on leading the federal party are done (for now).
thegoldenboy444 on
Quite genuinely fuck Doug Ford.
We deserve better than this Trailer Park Boys bullshit.
portstrix on
God Bless Doug Ford – PREMIER FOR LIFE.
green_link on
we need fucking terms limits for provincial premiers.
get doug out he hasn’t done a god damn thing for any Ontario citizen. all he does is waste tax payer money, waste money and time on courts fighting against citizens, selling off OUR public property to his developer buddies, and breaking contracts early to waste even more of our tax payer money. most corrupt premier in Ontario history.
worse snow storm in Toronto’s history and the science center roof still has not failed.
KWMiers28 on
Honestly? The thing I’ve seen work best here in Ontario when talking politics is to actually explain exactly what the Ford Government is in charge of.
I work in a very pro PC region and the amount of people who just don’t know that the provincial government is in charge of. Civic knowledge is at an all time low in Ontario.
tobogganhill on
Dear Leader will do the usual performative song and dance — pour out a bottle of Crown Royal, wear an anti-Trump cap, make a cherry cheesecake. And the seals will clap.
ZestycloseJeweler894 on
I’m so fucking sick of people voting this corrupt fucker in
31 Comments
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he wants to lead his party to a fourth majority government as he touted his ability to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump during a speech to the party faithful that sought to highlight the Progressive Conservatives’ record after nearly eight years in power.
The speech at the PC convention on Saturday was initially closed to media, but the party later reversed course after significant backlash and accusations of secrecy. However, the bulk of the three-day convention at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke, including sessions on campaign strategy and fundraising and a “fireside chat” with the Premier and party members, were still off limits to reporters.
Both the federal Conservatives and provincial Tories held conventions this weekend, with federal Leader Pierre Poilievre winning a crucial leadership vote with a resounding 87.4 per cent. Mr. Ford – having won three back-to-back majorities – was not facing any such test, and the PC event was a more low-key and closed-off affair.
Mr. Ford, during a speech to about 1,000 people at a “Dinner with the Leader” on Saturday evening, thanked the membership and said he hopes to be at the helm of his party for a fourth term.
“You’re helping us build a stronger, more united PC Party – a party that will continue to work for the people, and a party that I look forward to leading to win a historic, fourth majority mandate with your help in the next election,” Mr. Ford said in prepared remarks.
Claiming the previous Liberal government “left Ontario in shambles,” Mr. Ford said the Progressive Conservatives are standing up to the challenges posed by the current U.S. administration.
“Despite President Trump’s tariffs and threats, we are building a province that is more resilient, self-reliant and competitive than ever before,” Mr. Ford said.
The Premier later also echoed his “Team Canada” message – one that faltered in recent weeks when Mr. Ford publicly criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney’s auto agreement with China.
“We are working as part of a strong, united Team Canada, to stand up to President Trump, protect Ontario, and protect the true north strong and free,” Mr. Ford said.
Ontarians gotta be the most stupidest individuals in the world if they reelect Ford.
He has done nothing, but line his pockets and further impoverish the people of Ontario.
Ontario is a very difficult place to live in financially and he’s done absolutely nothing to make that better.
That being said, this is Ontario we’re talking about, so he’ll win a massive majority again…
Unless there is a miracle, there will be little opposition from the Liberals or NDP.
Hopefully not so soon after the last election, though. Even his recent early election call ended up costing him seats compared to the majority he already had.
I prefer a real conservative. Not a poser
All things considered Ford and Carney seem to have a respect for each other and work well together. The Liberals and NDP continue to run wet socks as candidates. Ford will (and should) absolutely clean up in the next election unless one of those two things changed.
I am a Torontonian who uses bike lanes every day and lives 15 minutes away from the science centre.
Can we get a new OPC leader seriously
No thanks Dougie
Please god no
i love Doug. hes so dumb and cuddly hes like a giant demented panda.
Yet Ontario will still vote for him
Premier for life !
Doug ford is the right guy at the right time with a world view understanding that is simply incomparable
For the first time in my life I would probably just not vote or spoil my ballot.
This guy need to leave now!
What has he done for the benefit of Ontario? Like… seriously. Anything?
Well why wouldn’t he ??
Goes on vacation most of the year, and the rest of the time makes back room shady deals to line his pockets without taking any accountability or being held accountable.
Could any one ask for a more cushier job !!
And he will get it as well
Please, anyone with a pulse and half a brain cell, anyone at all who can actually get name recognition… anyone else? Ugh… come on Libs.
The sad reality is that many Ontarians will vote for the OPC, and thereby Ford, despite complaining about many of the things he has done.
Everyone needs to come out in force to vote. Do your part, for whichever party you happen to support.
There is another choice other than continuing with Ford’s disasters.
Career politicians are some of the most vile creatures on the planet
The OLP and ONDP need to step up their game and actually give people a reason to vote for them other than not being Ford.
I still voted strategically against Ford last election, but more than half the province didn’t vote at all.
You should still vote against Ford next election if you live in Ontario, but I can’t blame people for being too apathetic when the only other options do such a piss poor job at campaigning.
How exactly will you reduce grocery prices? How exactly will you improve our infrastructure? How exactly will you tackle the climate crisis? The unemployment crisis? The housing crisis?
The OLP and ONDP’s campaign ads I saw didn’t mention a single policy. Barely anyone even knew their leaders’ names before the election. Even their websites didn’t have their platform on it until less than a week before election day.
If anyone from those parties reads this, please propose actual policies that you genuinely believe in and that help the majority of this province, and please include those in your campaign ads from the very start.
Next election is a long way off
Is it a coincidence that this comes right after Poilievre overwhelmingly passes a leadership review of the federal Conservatives? Any designs he may have had on leading the federal party are done (for now).
Quite genuinely fuck Doug Ford.
We deserve better than this Trailer Park Boys bullshit.
God Bless Doug Ford – PREMIER FOR LIFE.
we need fucking terms limits for provincial premiers.
get doug out he hasn’t done a god damn thing for any Ontario citizen. all he does is waste tax payer money, waste money and time on courts fighting against citizens, selling off OUR public property to his developer buddies, and breaking contracts early to waste even more of our tax payer money. most corrupt premier in Ontario history.
worse snow storm in Toronto’s history and the science center roof still has not failed.
Honestly? The thing I’ve seen work best here in Ontario when talking politics is to actually explain exactly what the Ford Government is in charge of.
I work in a very pro PC region and the amount of people who just don’t know that the provincial government is in charge of. Civic knowledge is at an all time low in Ontario.
Dear Leader will do the usual performative song and dance — pour out a bottle of Crown Royal, wear an anti-Trump cap, make a cherry cheesecake. And the seals will clap.
I’m so fucking sick of people voting this corrupt fucker in
Yes I voted.