Why Ford's bromance is back on with Carney
Pierre Poilievre, who?
Presented by your future go-to nightlife spot
ABOVE THE FOLD
DOUG FORD’s on-again, off-again federal Liberal romance is back in full force now that MARK CARNEY has been officially sworn in as Prime Minister. And there’s plenty of reasons for that — but one in particular has Queen’s Park circles buzzing.
Not-so-strange bedfellows: The Tory Premier has had a solid relationship with the ruling Liberals in Ottawa, including current and former front-benchers CHRYSTIA FREELAND, DOMINIC LeBLANC and JUSTIN TRUDEAU (except when it comes to the unpopular carbon tax).
And devoted readers will know by now that there’s been no love lost between Team Ford and their federal Conservative cousins led by PIERRE POILIEVRE.
So it’s not totally surprising that Ford has been singing MARK CARNEY’s praises now that he’s in the driver’s seat in Ottawa.
That’s got federal Tories grumbling, but they’re not shocked, either: “The range goes from disappointment to anger but not surprised,” texted one insider. “Doug was the same way with Trudeau and Chrystia. I think the party has baked in that they will never get Doug’s support.”
Sure, Ontario tends to vote opposites to Queen’s Park and the Hill, and the newly elected PC Premier will be looking to the governing Grits in Ottawa to help make it rain for provincial programming (he also wants them to get out of the way when it comes to the Ring of Fire and re-commit to Trudeau-era EV subsidies). Team Ford has also been wary of a potential cut-and-slash PM like Poilievre, and how that could hurt Ford’s own political prospects at the provincial level.
But with a federal election call expected as soon as this month, Ford may also be hedging his bets and making nice with Carney because, unlike their provincial counterparts, the federal Liberals have a competitive shot on his home turf.
“Ontario will be the battleground,” one source close to Ford tells me. Another suggested the PCs see Carney having a better shot at clinching Ontario now that Trudeau is out of the picture, but it’s still anybody’s game. Indeed, Poilievre’s camp has been gunning hard for Ontario, even sending competing canvassers out during the provincial election.
Publicly, Ford maintains he’ll work with anyone in Ottawa.
A message from Therme Canada:
Forget sticky floors and overpriced drinks—Toronto’s nightlife scene is getting a glow-up. Therme Canada, coming to Ontario Place, will change your Saturday night plans forever. Think thermal pools, social sauna sessions, cocktails and epic DJ sessions to keep you going all night long.
You’ll be able to grab your crew and ditch the King Street crowd in favour of soaking in warm waters under the city skyline, drink of choice in hand. Swap the heels for comfy sandals (or barefeet). Forget line-ups in the cold and get ready to revel in pure warm relaxation.
So whether you’re decompressing after a long week or looking for a new way to celebrate, Therme’s nightlife scene will offer up all the fun without the typical night club regrets.
So, Toronto, are you ready to swap the club for the pools and sauna? Because at Therme Canada Ontario Place, the night will be yours to soak up.
Ready to get all the info? Sign up for our newsletter and be automatically entered to win 1 of 3 free subscriptions to the Queen’s Park Observer:
HAPPENING TODAY
OATH-TAKING — Newly elected MPPs will be sworn in this week, with some ceremonies starting as early as today. NDPer CATHERINE McKENNEY (Ottawa Centre) will be among the first to take the oath at 11 a.m. Cabinet will be sworn in on Wednesday.
For your calendar (or not): BONNIE CROMBIE’s big leader’s dinner fundraiser has been tentatively pushed to June. Tickets will still set card-carrying Liberals back as much as $3,400.
CLIPPINGS
— TARIFF LATEST: As Cabinet mulls the Ford government’s forthcoming tariff-fighting stimulus package, well-placed sources tell me it would include funds for workers in impacted industries to get retraining in other fields. For instance, if an auto worker in Windsor wants to re-skill to work on highway construction — at a time when the Ford government is making ambitious promises to build such infrastructure projects — they would have access to government supports.
Stateside: The Star reports that Premier DOUG “FORD’s meeting with U.S. Commerce Secretary HOWARD LUTNICK in Washington on Thursday provided a road map on how to proceed” to end the tariff tango.
Juicy tidbits: “The commerce secretary suggested adjustments would need to be made based on America’s own self-interest with military and economic allies to preserve supply chains.” It also helps that JUSTIN TRUDEAU is gone. The former PM was “was mentioned by the Americans as an irritant and an impediment to resolving the trade standoff, insiders said.” Full story.
— CARNEY KILLS CARBON TAX… And Ontario’s leaders are rejoicing — but their responses are raising eyebrows…
“Good riddance to the worst tax ever,” DOUG FORD said on social media, as some pointed out he triggered the federal levy for Ontario by cancelling the WYNNE-era cap-and-trade system.
“Finally! No more carbon tax!” posted BONNIE CROMBIE, who had initially waffled on the matter.
Speaking of Crombie…
— GRITS GRIPE: More Liberals are getting ticked off about party brass backing BONNIE CROMBIE as she stares down a leadership review.
The latest: Party prez KATHRYN McGARRY sent an email to card-carrying Grits noting the executive council and caucus passed unanimous motions supporting Crombie — who managed to help increase the Liberals’ vote share and gain recognized status, but failed to claim her own seat.
Said organizer THERESA LUBOWITZ: “The OLP Executive should be neutral in leadership races as the body that launches the process. That should include leadership reviews. This puts a thumb on the scale.”
Lubowitz isn’t the only card-carrying Grit who isn’t happy about the endorsements. Even more. And then some.