Articles by Robert Benzie

Aug 19 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford’s ties to lobbyists have “alarmed” a Progressive Conservative riding association president, according to an internal party email obtained by the Star. In a letter to Ford, Tory executive director Mike Crase, and other PC officials, Lillo Ognibene complained about the premier’s appointment of a dozen lobbyists to his 17-member re-election committee. “These […]

Aug 13 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The stickers are in the mail. Ontario’s controversial new gas-pump decals that warn against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon-pricing measures will be in place well before the official launch of the Oct. 21 federal election campaign. They are being sent to thousands of gas stations in time for the Progressive Conservative government’s self-imposed Aug. 30 […]

Aug 9 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Doug Ford, who is struggling in public-opinion polls, insists federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is not “distancing himself” from an unpopular Ontario premier with an election looming. Ford told reporters Friday in Kitchener that he has a “good” rapport with Scheer. “I’ve talked to Andrew and I’m the premier of Ontario and I’ve got to […]

Aug 1 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Progressive Conservative MPPs from Scarborough, North York and Markham are urging their own government to save existing pediatric and obstetric services at the Birchmount hospital. Last week, six Tory MPPs met with senior aides to Premier Doug Ford and Health Minister Christine Elliott to plead their case for stopping the maternity ward move from the […]

Jul 30 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Down in the polls and scrambling to regroup after a rocky start to summer for his 13-month-old government, Premier Doug Ford insists Ontarians are behind him. “The people out there when I go from town to town — and I’m all over the province — people come up to me and the number one comment […]

Jul 22 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford has revamped his re-election campaign team, enlisting respected Progressive Conservative veterans and injecting new blood in the wake of the “French connection” cronyism scandal. “I am writing today to inform you about the newly formed leader’s advisory council on election readiness,” Ford wrote in an email to scores of Tory supporters Friday. […]

Jul 16 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford bills himself and his government as “for the people,” but a new poll suggests a clear majority of Ontarians do not believe he cares about people like them. The Corbett Communications survey for the Star indicates the cronyism scandal engulfing Ford’s office appears to be damaging the premier’s carefully constructed image as […]

Jun 26 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford is under pressure to expand a review of Progressive Conservative patronage appointments in the wake of the Dean French nepotism scandal. French, a close friend of Ford’s, resigned as the premier’s chief of staff last week after it came to light that he had awarded six-figure government jobs to his son’s friend […]

Jun 25 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford is investigating the French connections in the wake of a cronyism scandal that is embroiling his Progressive Conservative government. Ford on Tuesday “called for a review of all pending appointments” after a relative of his former chief of staff, Dean French, resigned from the Public Accountants Council. French, who stepped down after […]

Jun 13 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — As Progressive Conservative MPPs privately complain to Premier Doug Ford about a “culture of fear” amid tongue lashings from his chief of staff, they are being urged to attend his annual “Ford Fest.” In an internal caucus email obtained by the Star, the premier’s office is reminding Tory members to come to the Markham fairgrounds […]

Jun 12 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — In the wake of discouraging polls and unhappy with the rollout of the provincial budget, Premier Doug Ford is poised to shuffle his cabinet. The premier is expected to shake up his executive council after seven public-opinion surveys in the past month have highlighted problems for the Progressive Conservative government due to program cuts in […]

Jun 11 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The day after millions of Canadian basketball fans saw attack ads portraying Andrew Scheer as a puppet of Premier Doug Ford, the federal Conservative leader insists he is his “own” man. Federal Conservatives have told the Star they fear Ford’s declining popularity will hurt them in the Oct. 21 election, but in an exclusive interview, […]

Jun 9 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The federal Conservatives have mounting concerns about the impact Premier Doug Ford will have on their electoral fortunes in Ontario this fall, party sources tell the Star. “Doug Ford is the No. 1 issue at the doors (for candidates) here,” said one senior Conservative official, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations. “Let’s just […]

Jun 6 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — A majority of Ontario voters are “less likely” to vote for Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer in the fall federal election due to Premier Doug Ford’s policies, a new poll suggests. The Corbett Communications survey for the Star found 54 per cent of respondents said the actions of Ford’s Progressive Conservatives would have an impact on […]

May 17 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Ontario’s independent fiscal watchdog is sounding the alarm. Noting the previous Liberal administration spent $16.5 million on what she considers to be “partisan” ads last year, auditor general Bonnie Lysyk wants the Progressive Conservatives to strengthen the Government Advertising Act.