Crombie and Ford trade barbs at fiery Ontario leaders’ debate

Ontario voters were treated to a fiery leades’ debate on Monday as competing parties traded barbs, with a particular focus on Premier Doug Ford’s record.

Source: CPAC

Author: Clayton DeMaine

Ontario voters were treated to a fiery leades’ debate on Monday as competing parties traded barbs, with a particular focus on Premier Doug Ford’s record.

In particular, Ontario Liberal leader Bonnie Crombie pulled no punches when criticizing Ford.

After Ford labelled Crombie “the queen of the carbon tax”, Crombie said Ford was disconnected from Ontarians as he was “raised privileged.” Crombie has pledged to not introduce a provincial carbon tax, although has not weighed in on an industrial component.

“Unfortunately, Doug, you don’t get the plight of real people because you were raised privileged with a silver spoon in your mouth,” Crombie said, “You didn’t have to work for anything. You got a company handed to you, Doug, so you don’t understand how expensive things are today. I bet you couldn’t tell me the cost of eggs.”

Ford inherited his father’s family business, Deco Labels and Tags, in 2002 after his father passed away. Ford oversaw the expansion of the company into the U.S., including into Chicago.

Crombie reaffirmed that she would not introduce a carbon tax on consumers, leaving out the possibility of a carbon tax on industry.

“There will be no carbon tax, Doug. I have said that repeatedly, but you’re just like your friend Donald Trump and make things up,” Crombie said.

Crombie vowed to cut taxes, ensure every Ontarian has a family doctor, and like the Ontario NDP vowed to double the Ontario Disabilities Support Program.

Also on the panel were NDP Leader Marit Stiles and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner.

Stiles said she would introduce rent control, deliver a grocery rebate to Ontarians, and end “price gouging.” To get Canadians more doctors and family doctors, Stiles said she would remove the administrative burden on doctors, pledging to remove the amount of paperwork medical practitioners have to do.

Meanwhile, Schreiner accused Ford of handing out checks to millionaires when he gave all Ontarians an indiscriminate “$200 tax rebate” regardless of their income bracket.

Ford responded that the fundamental difference between him and his competition is that “they believe it’s the government’s money” but he knows it’s Ontarian’s money.

“That’s what you paid into. And when we saw more revenue come up to the coffers, we believe that it goes back to the people to stimulate the economy,” Ford said. “We believe in giving back taxes.”

Crombie also hammered down on Ford saying that he had seven years in office to fix problems such as rising crime, backlogged legal systems, and the healthcare system.

“I’d like you to look into the camera, and I’d like you to tell the people at home who lost loved ones while they were on the waitlist what you did over the past seven years to fix our health care system because it’s broken,” Crombie said. “We’re in crisis, and you’re bragging about what you’ve done. It’s been an abysmal failure.”

Crombie also called on all Ontario NDP leaders to instead vote for her party so that the Liberals can have a chance at taking over the legislature.
Despite most Ontarians viewing the provincial election as self-serving, polls show Ford is still likely to win a majority government.

Ontario’s election is set to take place Feb. 27, with advanced polls open from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22.