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It was the liveliest — and, at times, the nastiest — Ontario election debate in decades.
The three major party leaders faced off Sunday night in Toronto for the final time in the June 7 election campaign.
The three major party leaders faced off Sunday night in Toronto for the final time in the June 7 election campaign.
And things got personal almost right away.
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, whose party has slipped behind the surging New Democrats in public-opinion polls after weeks in front, warned NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is not ready to govern.
“I travel around, I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of companies — they are terrified of the NDP coming in,” Ford told viewers during the raucous 90-minute televised debate.
Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford, whose party has slipped behind the surging New Democrats in public-opinion polls after weeks in front, warned NDP Leader Andrea Horwath is not ready to govern.
“I travel around, I’ve talked to hundreds and hundreds of companies — they are terrified of the NDP coming in,” Ford told viewers during the raucous 90-minute televised debate.
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“They’ve told me personally, ‘We will pack up and we will go down south in half a second.’ God forbid the NDP ever get in, they will destroy our province,” he said, predicting Horwath “would annihilate the middle class” and “bankrupt this province.”
Following the debate, Ford repeatedly refused to say whether he would move Deco Labels and Tags, the successful business he inherited from his father, stateside if the New Democrats win.
After weathering a barrage of hyperbole from Ford, Horwath reminded him he has yet to share his full plan for governing Ontario.
Following the debate, Ford repeatedly refused to say whether he would move Deco Labels and Tags, the successful business he inherited from his father, stateside if the New Democrats win.
After weathering a barrage of hyperbole from Ford, Horwath reminded him he has yet to share his full plan for governing Ontario.
Have your say
“People started voting yesterday Mr. Ford. Where is your platform? Where is your respect for the people now when they are already at the polls and you haven’t provided them any information at all?” the New Democrat said.
“You wouldn’t buy a used car without looking under the hood,” she chided Ford, who became PC leader on March 10 after the resignation of Patrick Brown.
“You wouldn’t buy a used car without looking under the hood,” she chided Ford, who became PC leader on March 10 after the resignation of Patrick Brown.
Read more:
Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Final Ontario election debate lacks singular, defining moment
Opinion | Martin Regg Cohn: Final Ontario election debate lacks singular, defining moment
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Here are the four candidates wanting to be Ontario’s next premier, and what they’re promising
Four parties are making big promises on transit. What’s a commuter to do?
Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, premier since 2013, acknowledged from the outset that she is trailing in the polls.
“Here’s what I want to say about the last five years: Sorry, not sorry. I’m really genuinely sorry that more people don’t like me, but I am not sorry about all the things that we’re doing in Ontario to make life better,” Wynne said.
“I’m not sorry that we’re covering tuition for 235,000 students. I’m not sorry that we’re protecting the environment, and I’m really not sorry that we’re no longer asking single moms to raise a family on $11.40 an hour,” she said.
“I’m not sorry that we’re making an economy that works for everyone, not just a few.”
That was a reference to the Liberals increasing the minimum wage to $14 an hour in January. Under the Grits or the NDP it would rise to $15 next year, a planned hike the Conservatives would cancel to help businesses.
Four parties are making big promises on transit. What’s a commuter to do?
Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne, premier since 2013, acknowledged from the outset that she is trailing in the polls.
“Here’s what I want to say about the last five years: Sorry, not sorry. I’m really genuinely sorry that more people don’t like me, but I am not sorry about all the things that we’re doing in Ontario to make life better,” Wynne said.
“I’m not sorry that we’re covering tuition for 235,000 students. I’m not sorry that we’re protecting the environment, and I’m really not sorry that we’re no longer asking single moms to raise a family on $11.40 an hour,” she said.
“I’m not sorry that we’re making an economy that works for everyone, not just a few.”
That was a reference to the Liberals increasing the minimum wage to $14 an hour in January. Under the Grits or the NDP it would rise to $15 next year, a planned hike the Conservatives would cancel to help businesses.
Ford, who broke with political tradition and did not wear a necktie to appear more relaxed, moved to reassure voters that he would not slash and burn public services.
“Not one single person will lose their job,” he said, noting he is convinced the Ontario government “wastes 4 per cent of every dollar” so finding “endless efficiencies” should be painless.
“Who do you trust with your money? The NDP can’t do math and the Liberals are cooking the books.”
The PC leader also warned that the NDP has “radical activists” as candidates.
“They get their inspiration from Adolf Hitler,” said Ford, referring to Scarborough-Agincourt NDP candidate Tasleem Riaz, whose Facebook page once had a post with a meme of the Nazi dictator with the quote, “If you don’t like a rule … change the rule.”
Horwath said any meme to do with Hitler is “absolutely abhorrent and is something that I absolutely reject, completely.”
“Not one single person will lose their job,” he said, noting he is convinced the Ontario government “wastes 4 per cent of every dollar” so finding “endless efficiencies” should be painless.
“Who do you trust with your money? The NDP can’t do math and the Liberals are cooking the books.”
The PC leader also warned that the NDP has “radical activists” as candidates.
“They get their inspiration from Adolf Hitler,” said Ford, referring to Scarborough-Agincourt NDP candidate Tasleem Riaz, whose Facebook page once had a post with a meme of the Nazi dictator with the quote, “If you don’t like a rule … change the rule.”
Horwath said any meme to do with Hitler is “absolutely abhorrent and is something that I absolutely reject, completely.”
Vote now
“But Mr. Ford’s tabloid mudslinging against my candidates only foments divisiveness and hatred, and it has to stop — it’s the wrong thing to do,” she said, reminding Ford there are criminal probes linked to controversial Tory nominations.
“Mr. Ford, of all people, you have police investigations by three different police forces into candidates. Not from things that were dug up 10 years ago on Facebook, but right now, from data that was stolen from (Highway) 407 records. That’s you and your candidates and your party.”
The NDP leader, who repeatedly interrupted Ford despite the efforts of moderators Steve Paikin of TVO and Global News’ Farah Nasser, charged: “You can’t make up stuff, Mr. Ford. You’re not being truthful. You’re being dishonest.”
Confronted by the ghost of former NDP premier Bob Rae, who Ford blamed for the global recession in the early 1990s, Horwath said: “This is not 1990 and I’m certainly not Bob Rae — in fact he’s a Liberal now, but that’s another story.”
Prior to the debate, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who was not invited to participate because his party does not have seat in the Legislature, blasted the broadcasters for excluding him.
“I am confident this will be the last unfair leaders debate because we are poised to send the first Green MPPs to the Legislature,” said Schreiner, who is running in Guelph.
“Next time around, media executives will have a much harder time justifying our exclusion
“Mr. Ford, of all people, you have police investigations by three different police forces into candidates. Not from things that were dug up 10 years ago on Facebook, but right now, from data that was stolen from (Highway) 407 records. That’s you and your candidates and your party.”
The NDP leader, who repeatedly interrupted Ford despite the efforts of moderators Steve Paikin of TVO and Global News’ Farah Nasser, charged: “You can’t make up stuff, Mr. Ford. You’re not being truthful. You’re being dishonest.”
Confronted by the ghost of former NDP premier Bob Rae, who Ford blamed for the global recession in the early 1990s, Horwath said: “This is not 1990 and I’m certainly not Bob Rae — in fact he’s a Liberal now, but that’s another story.”
Prior to the debate, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, who was not invited to participate because his party does not have seat in the Legislature, blasted the broadcasters for excluding him.
“I am confident this will be the last unfair leaders debate because we are poised to send the first Green MPPs to the Legislature,” said Schreiner, who is running in Guelph.
“Next time around, media executives will have a much harder time justifying our exclusion
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