MP Jivani accuses Premier Ford of fueling cynicism, disengaging voters

Conservative MP Jamil Jivani slammed Ontario Premier Doug Ford, accusing the “Progressive Conservative” premier of lacking principles and creating cynicism among conservative Ontarians.

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Conservative MP Jamil Jivani slammed Ontario Premier Doug Ford, accusing the “Progressive Conservative” premier of lacking principles and creating cynicism among conservative Ontarians, potentially disengaging them politically.

On Saturday, at the Canada Strong and Free Network’s annual convention, Jivani criticized Ford, stating he lacks ideology and values, and instead governs based on popularity.

“I don’t think Doug Ford or people in his administration believe they have an ideology. I don’t believe they have come to a rational conclusion that there’s a better way to be a conservative than what I or you would say,” Jivani during a live interview with Derek Fildebrandt, the publisher of the Western Standard, at the CSFN event. “In fact, I’m not even sure they would be capable of having a conversation about conservative ideas or principles.”

Jivani suggested Ford’s main objective differed from the federal Conservatives, saying Ford’s goal was to “have and maintain power for as long as possible” at “whatever cost.” He said he and the CPC, on the other hand, want to do politics because they believe in certain values, ideas, and changes they would “like to create.”

In late April, on the night of the last federal election, Jivani targeted Ford, criticizing him for allegedly being a federal Liberal “hype man”, having “hollow” politics and “sabotaging” the federal Conservative campaign.

Ford and campaign manager Kory Teneycke claimed Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s campaign was mismanaged and had blown a 20-point lead over the Liberals. Conservatives still won over 40% of the popular vote in that election, their best showing since 1988 under Brian Mulroney’s PCs.

“For weeks and weeks, I had been seeing volunteers putting their effort into trying to help win this federal election…people who are giving everything they had and when they would open up their phones and see stories of the so-called conservative Premier of Ontario trashing what we were doing. They felt discouraged,” Jivani said. “They deserve someone to speak up for them and tell this guy, I don’t care about your theatrics and your stunts. I don’t respect you, and I’m going to point it out, because I don’t like what you’re doing to the people who are trying to fight for a better country.”

Jivani claimed Ford’s brand of “conservatism” was potentially damaging the conservative movement in Canada, explaining his heightened passion on election night.

“If you’re popular but you’re not doing good things, why am I supposed to be happy about that?” Jivani said at the CFSN event. “And to be perfectly honest, I also question whether the negative effect of that is producing more cynicism among our people.”

He raised concerns that many conservatives might feel politics isn’t even worth it if they believe their champion doesn’t hold their values, or will have the “same approach” as other parties.

Nick Kouvalis, a co-founder of Campaign Research, a consulting firm used by Ford’s PC government, responded to a clip of the exchange with a crude post made on X Monday targeting Jivani’s acquaintance with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. He called Jivani a “holier-than-thou” Oshawa MP who can “suck and blow better than most.”

Neither Ford’s office nor Kouvalis responded to True North’s requests for comment on either Kouvalis’ statements or Jivani’s remarks.

In a separate interview at the same CSFN event conducted and published by the Western Standard, Jivani said Ford is appealing to the status quo, while Conservatives are appealing to Canadians who are hungry for change. He said he’s confident the CPC will build in strength over time while Ford’s popularity weakens.