Several questions from the media, few direct answers from Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford on a campaign stop in Timmins Sunday.
While touting tens of millions of dollars for health care and transportation he has promised, the incumbent premier said this riding has had no voice in the 32 years that New Democrat Gilles Bisson has been MPP. He says PC hopeful George Pirie will provide that voice.
Asked if he’s buying the riding for Pirie, Ford repeated that there was no voice for health care or transportation under the previous Liberal government or from Bisson.
“They didn’t do Hwy 101. They didn’t put the $43-million into health care,” he said. “They cancelled – the member here cancelled and voted against the Northlander.”
Ford also told the small crowd of supporters of his $650-million plan to improve northern highways, including the money announced last week to complete the connecting link along Hwy. 101 through the city.
“The NDP and the Liberals? They’d rather protest Hwy. 101, the PC leader claimed. “I wouldn’t be shocked when we do 101, we have (NDP leader) Andrea Horwath and the local NDP candidate standing there with protest signs, not wanting to build safe highways.”
This was Ford’s third visit to Timmins in the past eight months.