Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie, left to right, Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, moderator CBC Radio Morning North host Markus Schwabe, Ontario Progressive Conservative Party Leader Doug Ford and Ontario Green Leader Mike Schreiner take part in the Ontario election debate in North Bay on Feb. 14.Gino Donato/The Canadian Press
Ontario’s four main political party leaders squared off on Friday in North Bay for the first of two debates, with the opposition targeting Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford for calling a snap election more than a year ahead of schedule.
During the event, hosted by the Federation of Northern Ontario Municipalities, Mr. Ford defended his early election call, saying he needed another four-year term to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles, Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner went after Mr. Ford for his record on affordability, housing and health care, as well as ethics.
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The leaders frequently clashed on stage and spoke over one another, as the moderator, CBC Radio host Markus Schwabe, tried to steer the conversation back to prearranged topics that had a focus on Northern Ontario issues, such as forestry, mining, and highway maintenance.
The PC Leader focused his remarks on the economy and Mr. Trump, but also attacked his rivals for opposing his government’s measures and accused them of supporting higher taxes. He aimed most of his barbs at Ms. Crombie, the former mayor of Mississauga, whom recent polls have shown in a distant second place.
The second, and final, debate before the election takes place Monday night. Ontarians go to the polls Feb. 27.
Here are some key take-aways from the leaders’ first clash:
1) Donald Trump, and an early vote
The U.S. President cast a shadow over the debate, with Mr. Ford referencing Mr. Trump’s tariffs in his opening remarks as the biggest threat to the province’s economy. The other leaders criticized the PC Leader for calling the campaign in the middle of a crisis – and heading to Washington this week.
“You fly off in the middle of an election for photo-ops in Washington with low-level advisers,” Ms. Crombie said. “What’s the point?”
2) Housing
While Ontario has seen its number of housing starts sink, Mr. Ford – who has slashed rules meant to preserve farmland and was mired in a scandal over opening up the protected Greenbelt to development – defended his record. He said he was cutting red tape and that no government had done more for housing.
“They don’t want to build,” Mr. Ford said of his opponents. “They want to tax people to death, that’s what they believe in.”
He took aim at Ms. Crombie, saying Mississauga shrunk in population on her watch and that she had raised taxes. (The Liberal platform calls for exempting first-time home buyers, seniors and non-profits from land-transfer taxes and cutting the development fees municipalities charge builders.)
Ms. Stiles said the PC government had allowed rents to shoot “through the roof” across the province, especially in the north and said an NDP government would get back in the business of building affordable housing.
“Where are the houses? Where are the homes that Doug Ford said he was going to build? Where are the homes, Doug?” the NDP Leader asked. “He has not done a dang thing about it.”
3) Addiction and homelessness
The debate’s tone changed as the leaders discussed the opioid overdose crisis and homelessness. Ms. Crombie shared the story of her biological father, who suffered from mental health and addiction issues and left her family when she was young.
Mr. Ford also alluded to his family’s struggles. His brother Rob’s tumultuous term as Toronto’s mayor was plagued by his drug and alcohol use.
The other leaders accused the PC government of doing too little to help with homelessness and drug addiction.
“On this issue, I have got to tell you, my priority is taking care of people,” Ms. Stiles said. “Some of the people on this stage are going to just want to throw people into jail.”
Mr. Ford, who has pledged to strengthen police powers to clear encampments, also defended his move to shut down supervised injection sites near schools or daycares and instead fund centres he says will funnel people into treatment.
“I know no one wants a drug-addiction site beside a school or a daycare. But my three folks here, on the stage, they voted against that,” Mr. Ford said, as Ms. Crombie muttered “no, we didn’t.” The Liberals in fact supported the PC bill when it passed in December.
4) Affordability
The opposition leaders took aim at Mr. Ford for the affordability crisis in Ontario, saying housing prices are among the highest in the world and that families are struggling.
Mr. Ford turned the conversation back to the economy, saying he’s never raised taxes. He attacked Ms. Crombie, calling her the “queen of the carbon tax,” despite her previous comments saying she doesn’t support consumer carbon pricing.
5) Memorable lines
“Mr. Schreiner, he won’t cut down a dandelion to put the shovels in the ground. He just won’t do it.” – Mr. Ford on his view that his opponents, including the Green Party Leader, don’t believe in building homes or infrastructure.
“You talk a good tale and you sound kind of folksy and charming, but none of what you’re saying is actually true.” – Ms. Crombie on Mr. Ford’s pledges to end hallway health care, cut income taxes or build 1.5 million homes.
“It’s outrageous, these two fighting over who built the least housing in Ontario.” – Ms. Stiles on Mr. Ford and Ms. Crombie squabbling over their records.
“I’m going to invite you canoeing and kayaking so you too can explore the beautiful north, Premier. It’s beautiful up here.” – Ms. Crombie, during a segment on the north’s forestry industry.
“Nobody in Ontario, when housing should be a human right, should be homeless tonight.” – Mr. Schreiner.