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.
May 13 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — It’s a different kind of climate change. Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives have launched their first taxpayer-funded TV commercial attacking the federal carbon-pricing plan as nickel-and-diming Ontarians. The 30-second spot, part of Ford’s $30-million push against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s carbon plan, depicts nickels cascading as the bounty from a casino slot machine.
May 8 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — It could take a Tory to topple the Tories and lead the Liberals back to power, a new poll suggests. Toronto Mayor John Tory, a former Progressive Conservative leader who left that party five years ago, would be the front-runner in the undeclared Ontario Liberal leadership race, the Corbett Communications survey found.
May 1 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Forcing private businesses to post the Progressive Conservative government’s stickers on gasoline pumps is a violation of Charter rights, warns the Canadian Civil Liberties Association. In a letter to Attorney General Caroline Mulroney and Energy Minister Greg Rickford, the association urged the government to revisit a decal debacle that could see gas stations fined up […]
Apr 16 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford’s government has fired the opening salvo in its advertising blitz against Ottawa’s controversial new carbon-pricing scheme. As first disclosed by the Star, Queen’s Park is launching a taxpayer-funded campaign on television and radio, in print and on social media targeting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan.
Apr 8 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Following the lead of U.S. President Donald Trump, Ontario Premier Doug Ford is attacking the media for criticizing his policies. In an email fundraising blast sent Monday by the Progressive Conservatives, Ford charges that unnamed journalists and news organizations are unfairly targetting him for opposing the federal carbon-pricing measures.
Apr 3 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The former Alberta cabinet minister advising Premier Doug Ford’s government on a revamp of Ontario’s alcohol retailing will be paid $1,000 a day, the Star has learned. Ken Hughes was hired two weeks ago by Finance Minister Vic Fedeli to be the Progressive Conservatives’ point person on negotiating changes to pave the way for beer […]
Mar 20 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford is threatening to call the Ontario Provincial Police to probe the fundraising practices of the opposition New Democrats. With NDP pouncing on ousted Progressive Conservative MPP Randy Hillier’s allegations about how the Tory government conducts business, Ford lashed out Wednesday.
Mar 19 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Too little, too late. That’s the verdict from Queen’s Park about the federal Liberal government’s pre-election spending plan. Finance Minister Vic Fedeli, who will table the Progressive Conservatives’ first budget on April 11, said federal Finance Minister Bill Morneau’s fiscal blueprint falls short. “This is nothing more than a re-election budget,” Fedeli told reporters Thursday, […]
Mar 4 2019 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The Progressive Conservative association in ousted MPP Randy Hillier’s riding wants Premier Doug Ford to let the veteran member back into the governing party’s caucus. With Tory MPPs expected to discuss readmitting Hillier to caucus on Tuesday, there is mounting pressure on Ford to bring him back into the fold.