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Doug Ford rolled into Ottawa on Monday, hammering away on some traditional Conservative targets — Hydro One and Liberal spending, for example — and unveiling a new campaign pledge: eliminating provincial taxes for workers earning minimum wage.
“My heart breaks for people on minimum wage,” the Ontario Conservative leader told a rally Monday night at the Nepean Sportsplex. “The Liberals decided to put (minimum wage) up to $14, but what people don’t realize is that they’re getting gouged by higher taxes. We took a common-sense approach,” Ford said.
The announcement, the first plank in the Conservative platform for the June 7 provincial election, will eliminate provincial income tax for Ontario residents who earn less than $30,000.
Close to 700 people braved Monday’s ice storm to attend the rally, which followed a Ford appearance at a noon-hour rally in Orléans. Led by an energetic Lisa MacLeod, MPP for Nepean-Carleton, the rally also attracted other Tory stalwarts, including retired Conservative senator Marjorie LeBreton, MP Lisa Raitt and former MPPs Claude Bennett and Gary Guzzo. Former Ottawa mayor Larry O’Brien was also there.
But it was Doug Ford the crowd had come to see, hoisting their “Doug for the people” signs, whooping at Ford’s promises to cut taxes, eliminate waste, and axe programs like Ontario’s Green Energy Act and carbon tax.
“The days of gouging the taxpayers are done,” Ford said. “We will go line by line through the budget and we will squeeze out every bit of waste there is.”
Mentions of Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau drew hearty jeers.
“I believe he is the one who can bring the real change that needs to happen,” said August Strotmann of Barrhaven. “I’m tired of the Liberals being in power so long. I think he speaks the truth.”
Georganne Burke and friend Bernadette Patton were also keen Ford supporters, taking front row seats right behind their party’s new leader.
“I was one of those people who supported him from the beginning and I can’t say that I am as proud of anything provincially as that,” Burke said. “He’s a great guy and I think he’s going to be a fantastic premier. He identifies so well with regular, ordinary voters. He speaks plain English. No weasel words.”
Jayson Mendoza, a Conservative who supported Christine Elliott in the party’s leadership race, said he came to “get to know Doug Ford a little better.
“I keep myself aware that he is not his brother,” Mendoza said, referring the to the late Rob Ford, the controversial former Toronto mayor and original leader of the “Ford Nation.”
Mendoza was impressed by Doug Ford’s performance in the leadership debate but wanted to learn more about his record on Toronto city council, where Doug served alongside his brother.
Another longtime Conservative, Sharon Navin, said she too backed Ford as leader.
“He’s just an ordinary guy. I know people will say, ‘But he owns a company.’ But he talks just like you or I do, like an ordinary person. I think he really does understand and know how to connect with ordinary people.”
Ontario’s deficit is the No. 1 issue for Navin in the election.
“My son will be paying for it. His kids will be paying for it. We just can’t afford it.”
bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
“My heart breaks for people on minimum wage,” the Ontario Conservative leader told a rally Monday night at the Nepean Sportsplex. “The Liberals decided to put (minimum wage) up to $14, but what people don’t realize is that they’re getting gouged by higher taxes. We took a common-sense approach,” Ford said.
The announcement, the first plank in the Conservative platform for the June 7 provincial election, will eliminate provincial income tax for Ontario residents who earn less than $30,000.
Close to 700 people braved Monday’s ice storm to attend the rally, which followed a Ford appearance at a noon-hour rally in Orléans. Led by an energetic Lisa MacLeod, MPP for Nepean-Carleton, the rally also attracted other Tory stalwarts, including retired Conservative senator Marjorie LeBreton, MP Lisa Raitt and former MPPs Claude Bennett and Gary Guzzo. Former Ottawa mayor Larry O’Brien was also there.
But it was Doug Ford the crowd had come to see, hoisting their “Doug for the people” signs, whooping at Ford’s promises to cut taxes, eliminate waste, and axe programs like Ontario’s Green Energy Act and carbon tax.
“The days of gouging the taxpayers are done,” Ford said. “We will go line by line through the budget and we will squeeze out every bit of waste there is.”
Mentions of Premier Kathleen Wynne and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau drew hearty jeers.
“I believe he is the one who can bring the real change that needs to happen,” said August Strotmann of Barrhaven. “I’m tired of the Liberals being in power so long. I think he speaks the truth.”
Georganne Burke and friend Bernadette Patton were also keen Ford supporters, taking front row seats right behind their party’s new leader.
“I was one of those people who supported him from the beginning and I can’t say that I am as proud of anything provincially as that,” Burke said. “He’s a great guy and I think he’s going to be a fantastic premier. He identifies so well with regular, ordinary voters. He speaks plain English. No weasel words.”
Jayson Mendoza, a Conservative who supported Christine Elliott in the party’s leadership race, said he came to “get to know Doug Ford a little better.
“I keep myself aware that he is not his brother,” Mendoza said, referring the to the late Rob Ford, the controversial former Toronto mayor and original leader of the “Ford Nation.”
Mendoza was impressed by Doug Ford’s performance in the leadership debate but wanted to learn more about his record on Toronto city council, where Doug served alongside his brother.
Another longtime Conservative, Sharon Navin, said she too backed Ford as leader.
“He’s just an ordinary guy. I know people will say, ‘But he owns a company.’ But he talks just like you or I do, like an ordinary person. I think he really does understand and know how to connect with ordinary people.”
Ontario’s deficit is the No. 1 issue for Navin in the election.
“My son will be paying for it. His kids will be paying for it. We just can’t afford it.”
bcrawford@postmedia.com
Twitter.com/getBAC
查看原文...
