OTTAWA — On the last full day of campaigning ahead of election day, Ontario’s PC leader ended his campaign where it began.
Doug Ford took his travelling Tory roadshow back to Windsor on Wednesday — the same place his campaign kicked off four weeks ago — with the same message he had at the beginning: A Ford government is the best defence against U.S. President Donald Trump’s punitively protective tariffs.
“There’s one thing that’s concerning to all of Canada and that’s the reason I’m wearing this jersey here: To make sure that Donald Trump understands very clearly he does need Canada, he does need our critical minerals, he does need our aluminum and the steel and the energy,” he said during a Wednesday morning news conference while decked out in a red Team Canada hockey jersey.
“We keep the lights on in New York, Michigan and Minnesota — and their governors appreciate it.”
He said a renewed mandate at Queen’s Park will mean continued growth for Ontario.
“We’re going to fight like we’ve never fought before,” he said.
“I’m going to make sure to protect the families, we’re going to protect the businesses, protect the jobs and we’re going to protect the communities. We’re going to get through this.”
Meanwhile at a campaign stop in Oakville, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie said Thursday’s election is all about trust.
“Who do you trust to have the right priorities? Who do you trust to ensure that you have a family doctor? Who do you trust to ensure that you and your family will get ahead?” she said.
“Our pledge and our commitment is to ensure that the 2.5 million people who don’t have a family doctor in Ontario today have a doctor within four years and that wait times are eliminated in our hospitals.”
Hamilton was one of the stops where Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles wound down her campaign, visiting local candidates after speaking to reporters at Wychwood Barns Park in Toronto.
“The Liberals are telling you that they’re entitled to your vote. Well, you know what? The Liberals aren’t entitled to anything,” she said.
“The Liberals have received donations from the same private health-care insiders, the same greenbelt developers that Doug Ford and the conservatives have received donations from. We cannot afford to go down that road again.”
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