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While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.
While they whisper and wonder about Project Ontario, the Tories are lacing up for a big post-election convention. But to start, Ford Fest did what Ford Fest does.
A who’s who at Ford Fest — The Premier’s yearly grill-and-greet went down at Centennial Park on Friday. From a teen protestor to a jab at an ex-mayor, mayoral glad-handing to a new “hard-core” Conservative, here’s what we saw:
— Just before heading to Boston to woo governors on trade, Doug Ford kept it on-message. “Canada is not for sale,” he declared, to roaring applause. “We aren’t going to roll over for Donald Trump.”
“My job is one job: I promise you, I will protect the people of Ontario,” he said. “I’ll protect communities. I’ll protect your job. I’ll protect your businesses.”
— Ford thanked Olivia Chow for renaming Centennial Park Stadium in honour of his late brother, Rob Ford. “It was Mayor Chow that named that stadium after Rob. I’ll be forever, forever grateful,” he said. “I’m still taking out the bike lanes, don’t worry!”
He also took a swipe at John Tory, saying Chow did for his family what Tory never could. “He went in circles and circles,” Ford recalled. Tory, who Ford urged not to step down, is weighing a run against Chow.
— A protester rushed the stage mid-speech, shouting “Save Grassy Narrows!” Ford then alleged the same individual had spray painted “everything” and slapped stickers “all over the place” the night before. “That’s not what the people want,” he chastised.
The protester turned out to be a teenager. They were released to a parent about two hours later.
— Meanwhile, as Ford spoke, a “Kill Bill 5” sign was unfurled in front of him.
— “For many years, I’ve been a Liberal — but I’m a hard-core Tory provincially,” Carolyn Parrish told the crowd to a cheer. Mississauga’s mayor called Ford “Captain Canada” and said he’s been “very good” for the city.
On why she showed up at his invitation, Parrish said it was the “respectful” thing to do. “Hazel [McCallion] did, enthusiastically, a wise woman,” she added. “Cities are the children of the province and depend on cordial relationships for funding to ease higher property taxes.”
If you ask me: There’s no love lost between Parrish and her predecessor, Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie. For Ford, Parrish stumping for him was a two-for-one — a swipe at his opponent and a show of cross-partisan support.
— Patrick Brown and Chow were also on hand. Toronto’s mayor spent an hour working the crowd with Ford.
— Also glad-handing was Brad Bradford, who is expected to run against Chow next year.
Hint, hint: “I think anyone running for mayor should be spending their time listening to constituents and figuring out practical solutions to move the city forward,” Bradford said. “There’s a lot of time between now and the next election,” he added. “I’m spending that time having conversations with Torontonians.”
— A PC MPP led the anthem. Striking WSIB workers crashed the event. Meanwhile, Dan Jacobs (or as some might call him, “DJ Dan”), a Ford aide by day, was at the booth, serving up hit after hit.
Meanwhile: With Tories still whispering about Project Ontario — an anonymous push to rein in spending and pivot right — Ford’s team is eyeing a fall convention, we’re told. No date has been nailed down yet, but it’d mean all three major parties will huddle later this year. Convention I. Convention II.
Unlike Bonnie Crombie or Marit Stiles, Ford isn’t sweating a leadership review. Still, with the mystery “grassroots group” teasing a fall get-together and some lingering bad blood from this year’s federal campaign, expect him to double down on unity. Ford, publicly unbothered, has privately felt “betrayed,” according to one source — particularly by Conservative organizers who’ve fueled the push online.
The apparent consensus? “[It’s] Conservatives who’ve decided that all the electoral success we’ve had over the last ten years federally needs to be imported to Ontario,” one well-placed Conservative, speaking on background, said.
“There are people who have never accepted that it is the job of a political party to win elections. Kory [Teneycke] has, mostly, beat that kind of asinine thinking out of the Ontario PC Party,” they added.
“The Star is writing that Doug is the most popular Conservative in the country and they do this?” a second wrote. “Really?”
“It defies logic,” a third said.
Thank you for reading POLICORNER. Are you in on Project Ontario? Is Doug Ford still your guy? Not so much? I want to hear from you and I’ll keep you anonymous. We’re back to regular programming on Friday.