Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford visited Sudbury for the third time in recent months Thursday, promising prosperity for the province if he's elected premier.
Ford was introduced by Nickel Belt candidate Jo-Ann Cardinal at the rally, held in the College Boreal gym. Sudbury candidate Troy Crowder was also there, shaking hands with the crowd.
“Who's out there fighting for the people?” Cardinal said, to cheers from the crowd of about 200. “Doug Ford is out there fighting for the people.”
With that, Ford took the stage to the strains of 'Eye of the Tiger.'
“Disturbing news,” he said, of learning that 600 people in the city are facing hydro disconnection after the winter ban ended.
He then launched into his familiar attack on Hydro One CEO Mayo Schmidt, taking aim at his $6 million salary, to calls of “shame, shame” from the crowd.
“He's not worried about the people, he's worried about lining his pockets,” Ford said, adding if the Tories win the June vote, “he's done.”
Responding to attack ads the Liberals have been running, Ford said he wouldn't make personal attacks during the campaign, but would only attack policies.
“The Liberals are already getting nasty,” he said. “We're not going to get personal, like they're going to get personal ... This is about respecting the taxpayers.”
He repeated his promise to do a line-by-line audit of the books to save $6 billion, accusing the Liberals of “cooking the books” to hide billions in spending.
Ontario, he said, spends $12 billion a year servicing the debt, the third highest government expenditure.
“Help is on the way,” he said, highlighting his plan to eliminate provincial taxes on low-income earners, restore Northlander bus service and share resource revenue with Northern Ontario.
“We're going to do some resource revenue sharing,” Ford said. “I believe in letting the people of Sudbury decide how to spend your money.”
He repeated several times how much he loves Northern Ontario, quipping, “I've been here more than I've been in my own riding.
“Hey Fred, you going to take me fishing someday?” he called out to longtime Sudbury Tory Fred Slade.
He finished by promising a Doug Ford government would lead to unprecedented economic growth in Ontario.
“A day of prosperity and opportunity and growth like this province has never seen before,” Ford said. “Together, we will get rid of Kathleen Wynne.”
Ontarians go to the polls June 7.
