Ontario Premier Doug Ford once wrapped himself in the Maple Leaf in the face of Donald Trump's tariff and annexation threats. But he's Ontario First now
I read yet another reference to “communist China”. China is certainly totalitarian, but it has long since ceased to be communist, except maybe in name.
Why do you expect Doug Ford to act like anything other than a Premier? Nobody is surprised when Danielle Smith goes on and on about never sacrificing the good of Alberta for the good of Canada. This is the nature of Canada at the moment.
Premiers are generally uninterested in Canada. They are unable to see beyond the borders of their province and there is no one in the federal government who is interested in speaking for Canada. Heaven forbid! That might cost some votes!
Doug Ford is an actor...and an imbecile. He was never in it for Canada, or for Canadian workers. Doug is in office for his donors, and no one else. No doubt, he'll make out like a bandit because of it. He's short-sighted, delusional, and based on his spending habits, anything but a conservative.....which I would really love to hear defined in this day and age. Frankly, Ontario voters believing him and putting him back in office is every bit as stupid as Americans electing Trump. Our consequences will be different, but very significant.
You have made a number of statements in your post that cannot stand without comment.
Premier Ford is anything but an imbecile. He is an extremely skilled retail politician who defeated the worst Premier since Confederation. He has built a dependable, respectable coalition of working class, middle class, and wealthy Ontarians. He is not in office merely for his donors; that is a profoundly inaccurate statement.
Comparing Ontario voters to Donald Trump voters is fact-free, nonsensical, politically illiterate, and devoid of any reasoned conclusions.
Premier Ford is definitely not a conservative; that is precisely why he is so successful in a Province that does not swing hard right.
1) the need for a vigorous defence of capitalism, the price system, & free trade.
2) a desire for limited, effective government.
3) a willingness to maintain a mutually beneficial immigration system: beneficial for Canadians, and designed to set up New Canadians for success.
4) recognition of a cultural adherence to historical, or religious observance. The idea that there is something other than just today, and the notion there is something bigger than us that is worth preserving.
5) the understanding and acceptance that true sovereignty requires preparedness through military strength.
6) an enthusiastic desire for fiscal & monetary stability.
7) an acknowledgement of personal responsibility.
8) a sense of collective responsibility for a civil society, the recognition of a common good, and the idea that, should one wish to live in a caring community, one must contribute to that goal.
9) a recognition that a safe, successful society requires that laws be enforced as they are written, and adjudicated in a timely, proficient, and efficacious manner.
10) a sense of Gratitude, for nothing is worth conserving if we are not grateful for its beneficence.
No, he's the worst Premier since Confederation. He serves developers and the rich. He has done nothing positive for the average Ontarian. ER's closed across the province. Running deficits that drunken NDPers couldn't accomplish. Destroying water systems for KW's planned expansion is now impossible because he gave away the water. Trying to take over Conservation Authorities, because he doesn't care about the environment. Dollar values will make Fort McMurray look like pocket change. It will serve him right when Muskoka inevitably burns, and his gutting of our forest fire services catches up with him. Oh, free licence renewals in a province running billion dollar deficits; genius thinking. Highway 413...5km away from the 407. Billions spent on Metrolinx with nothing to show for it. Millions spent on a promise of Northlander train service with no effort to make it work, ensuring he can cancel it in a few years and say "I tried" but no one used it. Inept and corrupt in his handling of COVID, making Ontario's results worse than they had to be by ignoring his own experts. Recall him trying to put a personal friend into the top job at the OPP. His first term was terrible, inept, and corrupt. The parallels with Trump are identical. He got elected on buck a beer and didn't deliver on that either.
If he's not a Conservative, why is he running under that banner? So what you're saying is he's basically a fraud. On that, we agree. Feel free to outline his successes. The Convoy? No. Billions of tax dollars given away for battery plants? Doesn't look like it yet.....and don't get me started on Ontario Place....all while he's still trying to run Toronto.
This is a fun part of the debate. I think McGuinty was worse than Wynne, who very unexpectedly inherited his disaster...all made possible by Tim Hudak being the biggest idiot in Ontario political history. Bob Rae did what every Conservative finance minister has ever done...spend your way out of a recession, and cut back on other things. Now, he's vilified for it. I don't know enough about Eby to comment, so I'll take your word for it.
Ford is, IMHO, worse than both of them. I'd love to hear what you think his accomplishments are.
Ford may be a great retail politician, but he is a terrible Premier. He has done nothing to solve the real problems of Ontario, preferring to go after much more serious issues: bike lanes, beer in corner stores, speed cameras. You know, those oh-so pressing issues. They are so important that he had to override municipal governments to make them happen and pay $225M to foreign beer companies. Yup, that Doug Ford. What a Premier!
Agree 100% with your view. To succeed in politics you have to be intelligent enough to read the mood of the electorate and vicious enough to destroy your opponents and former friends. He brought in liberal Trudeauesque fiscal policies while pretending to be a conservative. In politics you win first and then get donations, not the other way around.
With reference to Captain Canada: my granddaughter announced that she had learned a new skill in kindergarten, stop, think and then speak. This skill seldom appears in the Canadian reaction to Trump. Remember that like kidney stones he too will pass.
Ontarians blame the clown for acting like a clown, but should honestly ask themselves why they insist on continuing to pay for his perfomances at the circus by voting him back in with even larger majorities each provincial election.
The rest of Canada just have to watch the clown perform, and (most often) embrarass Ontario and by association, Canada, and we can't do a blessed thing to stop him.
Amazing how quickly Ford's true intentions were revealed. Never was about Canada. The EV/Canola/Ag deal with China makes total sense. Better prices for our exports, more options for cars. Nobody ever cared about "our western values" anyways, its time to prioritize the economy.
Its difficult to know if he will be able to deliver, but Carney's speech was remarkable, easily the greatest by a Canadian leader in my lifetime. I'd encourage everyone to watch it in full.
I did listen to the speech and it sounded very adult........but as my old daddy used to say " bullshit talks and money walks". Or is it the other way round??
Carney has no real ‘Moral Worth’. It isn’t all just about the money. People are going hungry,cold and forgotten in Canada. God help us if he lets China build anything in Canada,for us.
So you're against Canadian consumers having choices to accomplish what? You're against the possibility that they might build a plant here that would actually help make up for the auto sector jobs the big 3 have pulled out of Canada? Seems rather short-sighted...like Doug.
Why would China build a plant here, when they have no access to the U.S. market, and Canada doesn’t consume enough vehicles to justify a sustained production run?
‘Aquaintances of convenience’ I don’t blame Doug Ford for being upset. Allowing Chinese Electric cars into Canada is bad move. US took notice immediately. My father once said “There are usually two sides to a story. Sometimes three.” ‘Commie Carney’ is a nickname I’m going to use now. There are several companies bought outright by China here in Alberta. They are the most run down,dangerous sites I’ve been on. Union Busters! No safety protocol. Men have died.
Feel free to demonstrate.......It will take generations to undo the damage Trump has done in a year, and that's if he were impeached tomorrow. I look forward to your explanation.
Politicians, especially liberal politicians, will say anything to get a vote. That's especially true of the current federal liberal government and Ontario's conservative (mostly liberal) Premier. 'Twas ever thus and likely will never change. Politics for clicks, that's where we are now.
Very good. Won't resonate with the panic addicts who need sensationalism to keep their hearts beating.
Have yet to see the plan for lifting the post-nation state out of its self-induced torpor. Fortunately our leaders are plotting to repel invasions that will never come, taking umbrage at perceived slights and generally distracting the populace so the real problems aren't discussed.
To early for a shot of Crown Royal, so will nap instead.
That is a fair comment, David.
My understanding is that China already ships directly to those countries.
How is a small, short production run plant to compete with the Chinese plants?
I read yet another reference to “communist China”. China is certainly totalitarian, but it has long since ceased to be communist, except maybe in name.
This is how a country dies. Not from without but from within.
Ontario is Canada and Canada is Ontario, and eventually Ontario is all that will be left of Canada if this keeps up.
Why do you expect Doug Ford to act like anything other than a Premier? Nobody is surprised when Danielle Smith goes on and on about never sacrificing the good of Alberta for the good of Canada. This is the nature of Canada at the moment.
Premiers are generally uninterested in Canada. They are unable to see beyond the borders of their province and there is no one in the federal government who is interested in speaking for Canada. Heaven forbid! That might cost some votes!
I agree with you wholeheartedly and unfortunately
Doug Ford is an actor...and an imbecile. He was never in it for Canada, or for Canadian workers. Doug is in office for his donors, and no one else. No doubt, he'll make out like a bandit because of it. He's short-sighted, delusional, and based on his spending habits, anything but a conservative.....which I would really love to hear defined in this day and age. Frankly, Ontario voters believing him and putting him back in office is every bit as stupid as Americans electing Trump. Our consequences will be different, but very significant.
You have made a number of statements in your post that cannot stand without comment.
Premier Ford is anything but an imbecile. He is an extremely skilled retail politician who defeated the worst Premier since Confederation. He has built a dependable, respectable coalition of working class, middle class, and wealthy Ontarians. He is not in office merely for his donors; that is a profoundly inaccurate statement.
Comparing Ontario voters to Donald Trump voters is fact-free, nonsensical, politically illiterate, and devoid of any reasoned conclusions.
Premier Ford is definitely not a conservative; that is precisely why he is so successful in a Province that does not swing hard right.
I do have one question though....what is a Conservative in 2026?
If you would be so kind, I would like to reply tomorrow.
I will share with you my “10 Tenets of Conservatism”.
You can cut me to shreds as I post the last line.
The Ten Tenets of Conservatism
1) the need for a vigorous defence of capitalism, the price system, & free trade.
2) a desire for limited, effective government.
3) a willingness to maintain a mutually beneficial immigration system: beneficial for Canadians, and designed to set up New Canadians for success.
4) recognition of a cultural adherence to historical, or religious observance. The idea that there is something other than just today, and the notion there is something bigger than us that is worth preserving.
5) the understanding and acceptance that true sovereignty requires preparedness through military strength.
6) an enthusiastic desire for fiscal & monetary stability.
7) an acknowledgement of personal responsibility.
8) a sense of collective responsibility for a civil society, the recognition of a common good, and the idea that, should one wish to live in a caring community, one must contribute to that goal.
9) a recognition that a safe, successful society requires that laws be enforced as they are written, and adjudicated in a timely, proficient, and efficacious manner.
10) a sense of Gratitude, for nothing is worth conserving if we are not grateful for its beneficence.
No, he's the worst Premier since Confederation. He serves developers and the rich. He has done nothing positive for the average Ontarian. ER's closed across the province. Running deficits that drunken NDPers couldn't accomplish. Destroying water systems for KW's planned expansion is now impossible because he gave away the water. Trying to take over Conservation Authorities, because he doesn't care about the environment. Dollar values will make Fort McMurray look like pocket change. It will serve him right when Muskoka inevitably burns, and his gutting of our forest fire services catches up with him. Oh, free licence renewals in a province running billion dollar deficits; genius thinking. Highway 413...5km away from the 407. Billions spent on Metrolinx with nothing to show for it. Millions spent on a promise of Northlander train service with no effort to make it work, ensuring he can cancel it in a few years and say "I tried" but no one used it. Inept and corrupt in his handling of COVID, making Ontario's results worse than they had to be by ignoring his own experts. Recall him trying to put a personal friend into the top job at the OPP. His first term was terrible, inept, and corrupt. The parallels with Trump are identical. He got elected on buck a beer and didn't deliver on that either.
If he's not a Conservative, why is he running under that banner? So what you're saying is he's basically a fraud. On that, we agree. Feel free to outline his successes. The Convoy? No. Billions of tax dollars given away for battery plants? Doesn't look like it yet.....and don't get me started on Ontario Place....all while he's still trying to run Toronto.
Not even close to the worst.
Kathleen Wynne
Bob Rae
David Eby.
If you can’t see the damage those folks did to their Provinces, you are looking the other way.
This is a fun part of the debate. I think McGuinty was worse than Wynne, who very unexpectedly inherited his disaster...all made possible by Tim Hudak being the biggest idiot in Ontario political history. Bob Rae did what every Conservative finance minister has ever done...spend your way out of a recession, and cut back on other things. Now, he's vilified for it. I don't know enough about Eby to comment, so I'll take your word for it.
Ford is, IMHO, worse than both of them. I'd love to hear what you think his accomplishments are.
Ford may be a great retail politician, but he is a terrible Premier. He has done nothing to solve the real problems of Ontario, preferring to go after much more serious issues: bike lanes, beer in corner stores, speed cameras. You know, those oh-so pressing issues. They are so important that he had to override municipal governments to make them happen and pay $225M to foreign beer companies. Yup, that Doug Ford. What a Premier!
I don't think I ever said he was a great Premier.
He chased away forever the worst Premier-of any Province-since Confederation.
For that alone, he deserves a big, cherubic, smiling statue in front of Queen's Park.
He’s in the running to be the second-worst Premier in my books, so, for him, no statue.
Agree 100% with your view. To succeed in politics you have to be intelligent enough to read the mood of the electorate and vicious enough to destroy your opponents and former friends. He brought in liberal Trudeauesque fiscal policies while pretending to be a conservative. In politics you win first and then get donations, not the other way around.
I am still waiting to see if we will be able to get BC Wine at the LCBO.
With reference to Captain Canada: my granddaughter announced that she had learned a new skill in kindergarten, stop, think and then speak. This skill seldom appears in the Canadian reaction to Trump. Remember that like kidney stones he too will pass.
Ontarians blame the clown for acting like a clown, but should honestly ask themselves why they insist on continuing to pay for his perfomances at the circus by voting him back in with even larger majorities each provincial election.
The rest of Canada just have to watch the clown perform, and (most often) embrarass Ontario and by association, Canada, and we can't do a blessed thing to stop him.
Some advice for Ontario:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02opWiAWNbU
Amazing how quickly Ford's true intentions were revealed. Never was about Canada. The EV/Canola/Ag deal with China makes total sense. Better prices for our exports, more options for cars. Nobody ever cared about "our western values" anyways, its time to prioritize the economy.
Its difficult to know if he will be able to deliver, but Carney's speech was remarkable, easily the greatest by a Canadian leader in my lifetime. I'd encourage everyone to watch it in full.
I did listen to the speech and it sounded very adult........but as my old daddy used to say " bullshit talks and money walks". Or is it the other way round??
Now GFL waste disposal has left for Florida he might consider it's HIM.
Carney has no real ‘Moral Worth’. It isn’t all just about the money. People are going hungry,cold and forgotten in Canada. God help us if he lets China build anything in Canada,for us.
So you're against Canadian consumers having choices to accomplish what? You're against the possibility that they might build a plant here that would actually help make up for the auto sector jobs the big 3 have pulled out of Canada? Seems rather short-sighted...like Doug.
Why would China build a plant here, when they have no access to the U.S. market, and Canada doesn’t consume enough vehicles to justify a sustained production run?
How about Mexico? South America? Europe? Doesn't have to be the biggest. plant in the world to grab a North American foothold.
‘Aquaintances of convenience’ I don’t blame Doug Ford for being upset. Allowing Chinese Electric cars into Canada is bad move. US took notice immediately. My father once said “There are usually two sides to a story. Sometimes three.” ‘Commie Carney’ is a nickname I’m going to use now. There are several companies bought outright by China here in Alberta. They are the most run down,dangerous sites I’ve been on. Union Busters! No safety protocol. Men have died.
Why the hell would anyone care what the US thinks? The US is gone. It's not coming back.
That is demonstrably false.
Canada is running out of options, and soon will be left with nothing but bad choices.
Feel free to demonstrate.......It will take generations to undo the damage Trump has done in a year, and that's if he were impeached tomorrow. I look forward to your explanation.
Perhaps his attitude was adjusted when the PM smacked his hand and apologized to Donald for buying the anti-tariff ad?
Also, regarding Ford feeling blindsided by the Chinese car thing - do we know if Ford consulted Carney about the Ronald Reagan ad before they ran it?
Politicians, especially liberal politicians, will say anything to get a vote. That's especially true of the current federal liberal government and Ontario's conservative (mostly liberal) Premier. 'Twas ever thus and likely will never change. Politics for clicks, that's where we are now.
Being the smartest member of the Ford family does not mean much in the rest of the world.
Very good. Won't resonate with the panic addicts who need sensationalism to keep their hearts beating.
Have yet to see the plan for lifting the post-nation state out of its self-induced torpor. Fortunately our leaders are plotting to repel invasions that will never come, taking umbrage at perceived slights and generally distracting the populace so the real problems aren't discussed.
To early for a shot of Crown Royal, so will nap instead.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣