Doug Ford was making connections in Timmins today.
“I connect with the people in the north, I just do. They’re down-to-earth, they’re real, our message resonates more in the north than it does in the city. But I knew that before,” he said, adding Ford Nation spreads right across the country.
The Ontario PC leadership candidate met with members of the local riding association this afternoon.
Ford said the meeting held at the Holiday Inn Express was to talk to the people and see how he can help.
While he didn’t have a big spending announcement for Northern Ontario, he committed to doing what he says he’s going to do.
“I can’t come back here when I’m premier and look at these people and not do what I say I’m going to do. Some politicians have no problem with it and that’s why I don’t like politicians. I’m not a politician, I’m a businessman trying to give back to the province,” he said.
Infrastructure is one area he has earmarked for action.
“Rather than talk about all these roads being built, we’re going to build ‘em. We do what we say we’re going to do, we don’t flip flop back and forth,” he said.
“We’re going to make sure that we make it more affordable for people to live, they’re getting gouged on the hydro rates right now – artificially inflated hydro rates — and that’s what we’re going to focus on, putting money back in the taxpayers’ pocket instead of the government’s pocket."
To keep people moving around, he has another suggestion.
“We have to bring back the Northlander, and have access for people to get from point a to point B, broaden their horizons when it comes to their jobs and getting down to the city,” he said.
Ford is the third of the four leadership candidates to stop in Timmins.
Christine Elliott kicked off the visits in early February, followed by Caroline Mulroney's stop later in the month.
The voting period for Ontario PC members to select their new leader is underway until March 8. A leadership convention is slated for March 10.
The Timmins PC riding is offering assistance to party members voting for a leadership candidate.
A leadership vote assistance session is being held Monday, March 5 at the Senator Hotel Conference Room 2, 14 Mountjoy St. S. from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be step-by-step instructions on how to vote. Laptops and a scanner will be available.
To be eligible to vote, people must register as official Conservative Party of Ontario members or on before 11:59 p.m. March 5.
