Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good at getting elected,’” he said on a call. “And our retort is: Sure — but if we keep getting elected and never accomplish the things we actually believe in, then what’s the point of winning?”
Though they insist this isn’t a push to oust Mr. Premier — this isn’t the New Leaf Liberals, they say — Spoke says Team Ford is already feeling the heat. Back-channel pressure is mounting, he says, to keep people from associating with the group. Ford, himself, has described the right-wing think tank as “a bunch of radical rights.”
Recall: The Progressive Conservatives timed their upcoming convention for the same weekend as the federal convention — a quiet bid to keep the “crazies” at bay.
We caught up with Spoke to talk Project Ontario — what they want, why now and how Team Ford is reacting.
Here’s our conversation, edited for length and clarity:
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good at getting elected,’” he said on a call. “And our retort is: Sure — but if we keep getting elected and never accomplish the things we actually believe in, then what’s the point of winning?”
Though they insist this isn’t a push to oust Mr. Premier — this isn’t the New Leaf Liberals, they say — Spoke says Team Ford is already feeling the heat. Back-channel pressure is mounting, he says, to keep people from associating with the group. Ford, himself, has described the right-wing think tank as “a bunch of radical rights.”
Recall: The Progressive Conservatives timed their upcoming convention for the same weekend as the federal convention — a quiet bid to keep the “crazies” at bay.
We caught up with Spoke to talk Project Ontario — what they want, why now and how Team Ford is reacting.
Here’s our conversation, edited for length and clarity:
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…
Q+A — Is Doug Ford true-blue?
Meet Project Ontario, a “grassroots group” pushing the Tories to tack right. “It’s a group of small-c Ontario conservatives that came together with a shared frustration,” co-founder Matt Spoke said, describing a party that prizes polling over principal and survival over substance.
They see themselves as the conscience of the party. “Some argue, ‘Well, we can’t accomplish anything if we don’t get elected. Doug Ford is very good…