Articles by Robert Benzie

Oct 15 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — As Ontario’s fiscal watchdog is set to reveal the financial impact of Premier Doug Ford’s decision to scrap cap-and-trade, the Progressive Conservatives insist they will have a replacement climate-change plan soon. Environment Minister Rod Phillips said Monday the Tories would soon unveil their strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to extreme weather.

Oct 15 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Put a sock in it, Doug. That’s the message from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to Doug Ford in the wake of the premier’s grousing about Ontario being hurt by the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade deal.

Oct 7 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — For 126 years the Toronto Star has been keeping residents of this city, province and country informed and entertained, from politics and public transit to crime, celebrities, fashion, sports and more. If it was happening, the Star had it covered. With 141 National Newspaper Awards, our prize-winning journalism has been a major influence in the […]

Sep 26 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Doug Ford led the Progressive Conservatives to victory because he had a “believable, achievable” platform that was successfully conveyed to voters, says his campaign czar. Kory Teneycke told a Ryerson University democracy forum moderated by the Star’s Martin Regg Cohn that Ford’s “authenticity” resonated with Ontarians in the June 7 election.

Sep 4 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The new Progressive Conservative government has axed a slew of high-profile Liberal appointees, including corrections reformer Howard Sapers, former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci and ex-minister David Collenette. Premier Doug Ford, who toppled Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals in the June 7 election, has quietly been removing people from their government patronage posts since being sworn in […]

Aug 2 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Opponents of reducing the size of Toronto’s council only want to “protect a bunch of downtown politicians,” says Premier Doug Ford. Ford, who is unilaterally reducing the number of councillors from 47 to 25 after the Oct. 22 municipal election, insisted that “we ran on reducing the size and cost of government.”

Jul 27 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford is slashing the size of Toronto city council almost in half before the October election, the Star has learned. In a stunning development, Ford is also cancelling planned regional chair elections in Peel and York, thwarting the ambitions of his political foe Patrick Brown, the former Progressive Conservative leader, as well as […]

Jul 6 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford has quietly appointed a key Progressive Conservative ally to a $348,000-a-year patronage job to oversee a new panel tackling hospital overcrowding. Hours after been sworn in June 29, Ford convened his first cabinet meeting where one of 37 orders of business was naming Dr. Rueben Devlin to lead the new “Premier’s council […]

Jul 4 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford has quietly fired Ontario’s chief investment officer, chief scientist, and removed Ed Clark as the premier’s business adviser in a post-election purge. Sources told the Star that Ford’s newly elected Progressive Conservative government ended Allan O’Dette’s brief tenure as the province’s first chief investment officer at cabinet on Friday.

Jul 4 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — Premier Doug Ford has halted new anti-vaping rules so his fledgling Progressive Conservative government can get a handle on the impact of health measures that have affected medical cannabis users. “The changes to the Smoke Free Ontario Act that were set to come into effect on July 1 … are being paused to give the […]

Jun 22 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The polls were right. Progressive Conservative Leader Doug Ford won a majority on June 7, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath secured official opposition status for her party, Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals were decimated, and the Greens finally got a seat.

Jun 13 2018 — Robert Benzie — The Canadian Press — Premier-designate Doug Ford will recall the Ontario Legislature next month for a brief summer session to end the York University strike and begin fulfilling campaign promises like lowering gasoline prices, sources told the Star. “We’re going to move forward relatively quickly. I’ll be back to you on that in the next few days,” Ford told […]

Jun 5 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — The penultimate day before Election Day is promising to be dominated by fallout from the $16.5-million lawsuit filed by Renata Ford, widow of former mayor Rob Ford, against her brother in law Doug Ford. PC leader Ford, who has denied Renata Ford’s allegations that she and her children are being deprived of millions of dollars […]

May 30 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — New Democratic Leader Andrea Horwath insists there’s no anti-police undercurrent in her front-running party despite past controversial actions by NDP candidates. “Not at all,” Horwath said Wednesday after the Progressive Conservatives, who have slipped to second place according to most public-opinion polls, accused her of “indulging offensive and radical elements in her party.”

May 28 2018 — Robert Benzie — Toronto Star — NDP Leader Andrea Horwath went to the heart of the so-called “Ford Nation” to warn voters that the Progressive Conservative leader’s tax plan will benefit wealthy people such as Ford, himself. “Doug Ford says he’s for the people, but it’s clear his plan is for the rich,” Horwath said Monday at a coffee shop in […]