Toronto — OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas is calling on Doug Ford to come clean about his strong links to Stephen Harper and the Reform Party, and be straight with Ontarians about what they can expect should he manage to be elected premier.
"Just last week, we saw Doug Ford pull out one of the many tricks in the Harper playbook: obstructing the media so he can’t be held accountable as he guts our communities,” said Thomas.
Ford's pronouncement that his party won't have a bus for the media covering his election campaign next month is an ominous sign about what a Ford government would be like.
"It certainly looks like Harper operatives have seized control of the Ontario PCs,” said Thomas. “We all remember how that crew slashed critical public services and bullied and stifled dedicated federal public service employees.
“Is Harper politics the kind of vision Doug Ford has for Ontario?” asked Thomas. “Ontarians deserve an honest answer before they vote.”
Many of Ford’s campaign staffers used to be senior advisors to Harper, Preston Manning, and Stockwell Day.
Thomas has expressed concern several times in the past month about Ford’s obvious lack of experience. He hasn’t even proven that he can win a seat in the legislature, let alone form a government.
Thomas also wanted Ford to answer whether he would work with one of the other parties should the Tories end up with the largest number of seats in a minority Parliament and if the answer was yes which party.
He also wanted Ford to clearly indicate whether he would stay on as leader if the Progressive Conservatives are unable to form a government.
“Doug, it seems you don’t want to take questions from the media, but I represent a lot of hard working Ontarians who deserve the truth,” said Thomas. “Tough questions deserve honest answers. It’s time to talk, Doug.”
For more information: Warren (Smokey) Thomas, 613-329-1931