# Ontario provincial election: The Return of Ford Nation, Part II **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 3, 2018, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506 "2018-05-03T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/141 "2018-06-02T01:32:05Z")
I didn’t pay attention to when the advanced polls were, which I took advantage of last time and it was great because it wasn’t crowded and I was in and out in minutes. My regular polling station is conveniently just a short walk away, though, no need to drive. I have my card and I’m a-votin’ on election day! I know my vote will be wasted as this is traditionally an overwhelmingly Conservative riding, and I’m sure as hell not voting for Doug Ford, but at least I’ll do my civic duty and add to the popular vote that’s not PC. And then be forced to watch as Doug Ford messes up Ontario while Trump messes up the entire USA, and our poor Prime Minister, sometimes seemingly the last sane man left standing, tries to figure out how to deal with this hellish new world. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/142 "2018-06-02T04:28:58Z")
The people working at my advance poll must have been bored out of their minds. The person at the registration desk wanted to know all about the history of my name, and the person at the vote scanner explained the device and process in great detail. Nice folks. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/143 "2018-06-02T04:32:26Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > . . . I’m sure as hell not voting for Doug Ford, but at least I’ll do my civic duty and add to the popular vote that’s not PC. And then be forced to watch as Doug Ford messes up Ontario while Trump messes up the entire USA, and our poor Prime Minister, sometimes seemingly the last sane man left standing, tries to figure out how to deal with this hellish new world. I think it’s time to take out Texas in hopes that they then put pressure on Congress and the Trumpists. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/144 "2018-06-02T04:43:32Z")
I agree with much of what the National Post writes. One question is to what degree Ford would listen to more experienced advisors. The Sun also talks about a coalition NDP government should the PC win without a majority. Not a heartwarming thought either. Really, none of the choices are very good. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/145 "2018-06-02T16:59:59Z")
And today Wynne publicly admits the best the Liberals can do now is play spoiler: > **[Wynne acknowledges election is lost, urges voters to ensure NDP or PC minority...](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wynne-liberals-ontario-election-minority-government-1.4689222)** > > In an unprecedented move, Ontario Liberal Leader Kathleen Wynne admitted five days from the province's election that she will not be premier. Hopefully this will jostle a few more hesitant party loyalists to switch votes for this election. ---
**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/146 "2018-06-02T19:25:39Z")
Well, I voted. My wife and I walked into the returning office, no lines. 2 minutes in and out. At least I’ll feel better when Ford wins that it wasn’t because of me. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/147 "2018-06-02T20:50:32Z")
I got a canvassing call yesterday from the local Liberal candidate campaign. “Can she count on your support?” “No, not really” “Oh, ok”-sounding beaten- “good bye” I think it’s fair to say morale is pretty low. I felt kinda bad not trying to cheer the guy up. But I am wavering on my earlier position to vote Liberal. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/148 "2018-06-02T22:34:20Z")
> [@FinsToTheLeft](#): > > 1. My riding is likely one of the few likely to stay red and I don’t want to split the vote. I wish I knew which non-PC party was most likely to win. I’m just guessing at this point. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/149 "2018-06-02T22:47:46Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I wish I knew which non-PC party was most likely to win. I’m just guessing at this point. Yeah. I doubt FinsToTheLeft has my riding beat - it’s gone Liberal federal and provincial since '71. But if the vote is so split as to give the PCs a win here, it’d be damn lucky. The PCs have been well below 30% in all the last few elections. I am starting to think a “throw the bums out” and “anyone but Ford” vote can coexist here safely. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2018, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/150 "2018-06-02T23:17:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > And then be forced to watch as Doug Ford messes up Ontario while Trump messes up the entire USA, and our poor Prime Minister, sometimes seemingly the last sane man left standing, tries to figure out how to deal with this hellish new world. You know, I wasn’t a fan of Trudeau when he first ran, and voted NDP instead for the first time ever, but this past year, he’s really shown some chops, both in dealing with Trump himself, and all the idiot Trump fans here in Canada who are looking for any cheap excuse to insult Trudeau. Come next Federal election, he’ll probably have my vote. > [@CarnalK](#): > > And today Wynne publicly admits the best the Liberals can do now is play spoiler: > [Wynne acknowledges election is lost, urges voters to ensure NDP or PC minority | CBC News](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/wynne-liberals-ontario-election-minority-government-1.4689222) > > Hopefully this will jostle a few more hesitant party loyalists to switch votes for this election. I think that was the most self-serving “noble gesture” I’ve ever seen. “There’s no way we can win, so let’s make sure we send as many Liberals to Toronto as possible!” How does even make sense? If there’s anything that will let the PCs eke out a win, it’s splitting the vote between the Liberals and NDP. How’s about Wynne volunteer to have every Liberal in a NDP-Liberal or NDP-PC swing riding drop out? That might make a difference. > [@CarnalK](#): > > I got a canvassing call yesterday from the local Liberal candidate campaign. > “Can she count on your support?” > “No, not really” > “Oh, ok”-sounding beaten- “good bye” > > I think it’s fair to say morale is pretty low. I felt kinda bad not trying to cheer the guy up. But I am wavering on my earlier position to vote Liberal. I had a guy at the door last week, and got the same vibe. But the candidate in the riding just east of me is still swinging for the fences. Just today they put up a series of large signs along one of the major commuting routes out of their riding, that basically promise every goodie the riding has ever wanted. Expanded transit, widened highways, extra schools, the lot. ---
**Author:** ![Declan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Declan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Declan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/151 "2018-06-03T00:09:34Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I think that was the most self-serving “noble gesture” I’ve ever seen. “There’s no way we can win, so let’s make sure we send as many Liberals to Toronto as possible!” How does even make sense? If there’s anything that will let the PCs eke out a win, it’s splitting the vote between the Liberals and NDP. > > How’s about Wynne volunteer to have every Liberal in a NDP-Liberal or NDP-PC swing riding drop out? That might make a difference. When most people vote brand, they are usually voting for their MP or MPP depending on the level of Govt. By removing victory from the election, she is telling Liberals that are dissatisfied with her personally they can vote lib and perhaps save a few more seats than they previously would have. The OLP will not form the next govt, but there will be a next time and those traditional donors are not going anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2018, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/152 "2018-06-03T00:35:51Z")
No, it’s not remotely a real noble gesture. She’s pivoted to the only hope her party has. I can’t really blame her because obviously an NDP endorsement would be throwing all of her candidates under the bus. That is pretty unthinkable so she did what she had to, just throw the hopeless candidates under the bus. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/153 "2018-06-04T12:45:01Z")
> [@Horatius](#): > > I think that was the most self-serving “noble gesture” I’ve ever seen. “There’s no way we can win, so let’s make sure we send as many Liberals to Toronto as possible!” How does even make sense? If there’s anything that will let the PCs eke out a win, it’s splitting the vote between the Liberals and NDP. Honestly, I was horrifed. I was actually impressed with the “I’m not sorry” ad and was starting to like her a bit, and then this. To give up on the election with a week to go is disgusting and stupid. She’s not leading the Obscure Family Value Party or the Weird One Issue Party, she’s leading the Liberal Party. They have a candidate in every riding, many of whom has interrupted their lives in every respect to do this. Thousands of volunteers have put in millions of unpaid hours for this. Wynne owes them her best effort to try to win every waking moment from now until June 7, and she just gives up? Screw this “but you need to elect Liberals anyway” stuff. A public statement of hopelessness will unquestionably cost the Liberals votes. It will earn the votes of maybe eight people in the whole province, but will cost them thousands of votes from Liberal-leaning voters who, with Wynne having given up, won’t bother to vote at all, or possibly will vote for another party. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/154 "2018-06-04T21:30:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > To give up on the election with a week to go is disgusting and stupid. She’s not leading the Obscure Family Value Party or the Weird One Issue Party, she’s leading the Liberal Party. She’s not giving up on the election, she’s publicly acknowledging that the voters have given up on her, which is a tough thing to do. It’s also realistic – her words aren’t going to change that reality no matter what she says. Whatever else one might say about Wynne, she isn’t stupid. She is, in fact, one of the brighter premiers we’ve had in a while, unlike the post-Davis crop of conservatives like Mike Harris, Ernie Eves, and now Doug Ford, all of whom probably need an annotated diagram to be able to tie their shoes. Just today I heard Ford repeatedly asked at least three times, maybe four, by three different reporters, what he thought of Wynne’s statement, and it was like one of those low-tech toys that says something when you press a button, and the thing that it says is always the same and has nothing to do with anything you may have asked it. The guy’s stupidity is astounding. Obviously he’s been trained to stay on script because he’s too stupid to think, but the way he’s doing it is transparently idiotic. Yes, Wynne is leading the Liberal Party, one of Canada’s mainstream parties, and it’s now also a party that is at risk of getting so few seats that it may lose official party status in Ontario. She hopes to prevent that, and with luck, prevent the disaster of Ford getting a majority. She’s politically obligated to diss both other parties equally but it’s really Ford in control of a majority government that’s a potential looming disaster, not so much because he’s a conservative but because he’s an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/155 "2018-06-04T22:45:45Z")
Wheeee! Now Rob’s widow Renata is suing Doug Ford for $16.5 million, [claiming negligence in their co-owned business:](https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2018/06/04/rob-fords-widow-sues-doug-ford-alleging-he-has-deprived-them-of-millions.html) Rob and Doug’s mother, classy as ever: > [@](#): > > “It is heartbreaking that Renata has chosen to bring forward these false and baseless allegations against our family, right in the middle of the provincial election campaign. As a family, our one goal is to ensure Rob’s children are cared for and their financial futures are secure. Renata has serious struggles with addiction, and our hope is that she will accept help for the sake of herself and my grandchildren,” ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/156 "2018-06-04T22:50:27Z")
Being sued by Rob’s family. The Doug Ford show doesn’t end. I wonder if it will change anybody’s mind? (Not mine, of course. I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him) ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/157 "2018-06-06T12:52:17Z")
Have we ever had such a terrible choice of candidates? I am seriously at a complete loss for who I’ll vote for. I have been usually a conservative and even was a member of the party back in the early 90s but quit when Jean Charest was not selected as leader and they ran with Kim Campbell. It’s like deja vu, the Tories just had to select ANY reasonable candidate and this election was probably in the bag. Instead, they pick one of the most polarizing people in Canada. I told my wife, I might just vote for whichever of my local candidates comes to my door and speaks to me personally… all three did! The Conservative was first but took one look at the logo on my jacket and immediately was presumptuous and confrontational. She began her introduction with “I guess you don’t want to speak with me” then could not (or would not) explain her platform to me. To be fair, this was very early in the campaign and I’m not sure they even had one. The NDP candidate came by one evening last week. She was very nice but did not seem very confident or particularly aware of the issues which were my concerns. She also had a federal MP with her which seemed kind of odd to me. I also remember the Bob Rae “days” very well and do not want a repeat. The Liberal incumbent and his son came by this weekend. I’ve know him since I was a kid, he was the assistant manager of our local grocery store. My neighbourhood has been a Liberal stronghold but he seemed very uncertain of his support. Unfortunately, I just cannot vote liberal due to how they have negatively affected my workplace and stripped me my benefits, sick leave, salary, pension, etc… to “save” a few dollars while squandering hundreds of millions of dollars elsewhere. ---
**Author:** ![elbows](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@elbows](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elbows)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/158 "2018-06-06T12:56:15Z")
I just read the actual claims made in the suit by Rob’s family against Doug. OMG! It’s just shocking. I was left speechless. I can’t link to it but there is a good twitter break down out there. The estate remains unsettled. And it appears he’s been up to some wild financial shenanigans with the widow’s inheritance. Just when you think it can’t get worse! Ugh! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/159 "2018-06-06T13:05:53Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > I just read the actual claims made in the suit by Rob’s family against Doug. OMG! It’s just shocking. I was left speechless. > > I can’t link to it but there is a good twitter break down out there. The estate remains unsettled. And it appears he’s been up to some wild financial shenanigans with the widow’s inheritance. > > Just when you think it can’t get worse! Ugh! FTR, the complete statement of claim is embedded in the Star article that\*\* Raygun99\*\* linked to. It’s about halfway down. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2018, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506/160 "2018-06-06T17:09:51Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > The Conservative was first but took one look at the logo on my jacket and immediately was presumptuous and confrontational. I’m probably missing something obvious, but what logo do you have on your jacket? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ontario-provincial-election-the-return-of-ford-nation-part-ii/813506.md?page=9)