What has Doug Ford done for you lately?
Polls predict that Ford and his Progressive Conservatives will win – again – on Thursday. Personally, I don’t know what makes Ontarians feel that he’s a good leader, because I haven’t seen evidence of any good works… but there must be many who have.
I sometimes try to imagine what’s going on in Ford’s mind. When he called this early election, his train of thought seemed pretty obvious: Here’s a chance for me to look tough and loyal right before the vote! Which, to be fair, is not a bad strategy. Trump was already in, and immediately messing with Canada. When people are scared, they tend to vote for the incumbent, especially one who insists that they’re gonna fight for you. After all, Ontario represents about 40% of Canada’s population – making Ontario strong is an important part of defending Canada’s interests.
The truth is, Doug Ford has had almost seven years to fight for Ontarians. What has he done for you in that time? This is a serious question. Which of his actions has benefited you and your community?
In my mind, doing a good job as Premier means that you put the taxpayers’ money to good use. You spend it on things that will benefit the most people, and you take the steps that strengthen the wellbeing and resilience of the province.
Has our Premier been doing those things?
In his eighty months on the job, has Doug Ford made it easier for Ontarians to afford a place to live?
Has he reduced wait times in emergency rooms, or made it more possible to get a family doctor?
Is it easier now to get around in Ontario?
Did he invest in public education?
Has he done anything to make Ontario more beautiful, resilient, or ready for the future?
His track record says no.
Ipsos reports that health care is the top issue for Ontario voters. This does not seem to matter to Doug Ford. Ontarians without family doctors number more than two million. Hospitals are understaffed, so hospital staff are overworked. The “hallway medicine” crisis is worse than ever: longer wait times, emergency rooms reducing hours – and even closing up completely, in some cases. (Honestly, what kind of provincial government lets ERs close??) Our family has had very recent experience with emergency medicine and it is beyond clear that there is needless suffering, and there are lives lost, with this dangerous underfunding model.
Progress in new housing has stalled out since 2022. Plans for Highway 413 have also been tied up. (And public transit has never been his priority.) Perhaps this is because Ford doesn’t know how to do progress without selling off the Greenbelt and sprawling all over farmland and sensitive habitats. Maybe he never read about how eliminating wetlands and green spaces results in more flooding. Or how if you don’t have farmland, you don’t produce food. Don’t more secure food sources and fewer floods seem like things Ontarians might want?
As for public education, it’s in crisis. Doug Ford’s claims that they’re investing in education are simply untrue, and school staff and communities feel it. I wrote about this a year-and-a-half ago, and although educators are glad to have a contract now (finally), working conditions have not noticeably changed. The feeling of scarcity is constant.
Educators, like medical professionals, are burning out in record numbers under these circumstances. People in these professions are working hard every day to make Ontario a better, safer, thriving place – and the government is not. The government has, for almost seven years, been making cuts to make that goal unachievable.
Let’s look at the things Doug Ford’s administration did accomplish.
What did they feel was worth spending taxpayer money on? Remembering, of course, that a billion dollars is one thousand million. Dollars. Of public money.
- Expanding the alcohol marketplace, and then moving up the deadline, for a cool $1.4B. (FFS.)
- Having a foreign company build a spa at Ontario Place for $2.2B.
- Conducting court battles.
- Taking out bike lanes.
- Paying himself and his colleagues more money.
- Buying votes.
- Making lots of signs and advertisements about how great they’re doing.
Other decisions Ontario voters didn’t ask for:
- Closing the Ontario Science Centre with one day’s notice.
- Invoking the notwithstanding clause multiple times.
- Downgrading drunk driving charges.
- Moving ServiceOntario outlets to private retailers.
And on and on and on.
Spending money in all the wrong places, and sneaking around to do it. Getting in bed with corporations as a matter of course. He’s not here to lead, he’s here to get away with whatever will make him money. This style of “leadership” verges on Trumpian.
Where does that leave Ontario? Strong and thriving? Or struggling with crises in housing, food security, education, medical and mental health access, opioids, long-term care, autism funding, child welfare, and more?
I’m not blaming Doug Ford or his government for Covid-19 or inflation. Things would have been tough even without the PCs making it worse. But how are Ontarians supposed to feel safe with someone in charge who clearly does not have their interests in mind? Haven’t we seen more than enough money and time wasted? Our Premier’s legacy speaks for him. There’s no reason to believe that he will ever even govern with responsibility or transparency, let alone real vision.
It comes down to this: Doug Ford is f**king shady. He does not deserve Ontario’s trust – or our votes.
Ontario voters, if you didn’t receive a voter card, YOU CAN STILL VOTE! You just need ID with your full name and address. Find your polling station here.
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