Doug Ford rides blue-wave in Etobicoke North

Jun 7, 2018 | News

By Ryan

Doug Ford delivers his victory speech at Toronto Congress Centre

Ryan Brockerville

It is official, Doug Ford will be the next premier of Ontario.

Ford secured victory in his riding of Etobicoke North with 52.54 per cent of the overall vote shortly after 9 P.M. The NDP’s Mahamud Amin was a distant second with 25.39 per cent of the vote.

Across the province the Progressive Conservative party steamrolled to a majority government winning 75 seats while the NDP secured official opposition status with 40 seats.

“The party with the taxpayer’s money is done,” Ford told hundreds of cheering supporters at the Toronto Congress Centre.

Ford reminded his supporters that he promised to work hard and run an honest campaign, to focus on policies that mattered and promised to deliver a strong majority government and “together we did that,” said Ford.

Humber Journalist Celeste Decaire spoke with Doug Ford’s director of communications Melissa Lantsman before the polls closed.

 

Etobicoke North is in the northwest part of Toronto and its boundaries are the Mississauga-Toronto border on the west, Steeles Avenue West on the north, the Humber River on the east and Dixon Road, Martin Grove Road and Eglinton Avenue West on the south.

Etobicoke North was seen as vitally important for the Progressive Conservatives with their leader, Doug Ford, running there. It had been a Liberal stronghold since 2003, but, surging in the polls, the NDP were looking to spoil the party.

The Ford name is well known in Toronto – and beyond.

As the 26th Progressive Conservative party leader, Ford was looking to use his municipal voter base in the Etobicoke to win the seat provincially and become the next premier of Ontario.

Ford had been Toronto City Councillor for Ward 2 Etobicoke North from 2010 to 2014 at the same time his brother, Rob Ford, was mayor. When Rob Ford became ill and had to abandon his bid for a second term in 2014, Doug Ford took his place on the ballot, placing a close second behind the winner, John Tory. 

Ford is also known for his family business Deco Labels and Tags, a printing business his father Doug Ford Sr. cofounded and which operates in Canada and the United States. The business is now owned by Doug Jr. and his brother Randy. As well, Doug Ford Sr. was a member of provincial parliament from 1995-1999. 

During this campaign, while Ford has championed helping taxpayers and cleaning up what he sees as waste at Queen’s Park, he has also faced moments of controversy in the campaign. This past week when Rob Ford’s widow launched a $16.25-million dollar lawsuit against him. Renata Ford is suing him for failing to meet financial obligations to the family.

Liberal candidate Qaadri sought his fifth term as an MPP and was first elected provincially in 2003. The riding was previously held by the PCs. The Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration in Liberal premier Kathleen Wynne’s cabinet took the riding in 2014 with 12,168 votes or 44.9 per cent. Qaadri ran on the platform of quality public healthcare, education, diversity and a just society.

The NDP’s Amin was a first time runner in the region, Amin and the NDP have a strong chance at securing a win. Amin is long time volunteer in Etobicoke North with the Somali Youth Association of Toronto. Amin wanted to address the high unemployment, overcrowded transit, and high cost of living affecting many Etobicoke North families.

Green candidate Nancy Ghuman is a graduate with a Masters degree in Environmental Studies, she is currently working as a Civil Servant in Toronto’s Energy Sector. Ghuman has been an advocate for sustainable and progressive policies, as well as being instrumental in initiatives that highlighted accessible transit. Ghuman played a key role in the set-up of a task force that promoted clearer nutritional guidelines as well as banning plastic water bottles on York University’s Campus.

Libertarian Brianne Lefebvre was also a candidate in the riding.

The 2014 election results saw a Liberal victory with 12,168 votes and 44.90 per cent of the vote. The PCs finished second with 6,163 votes 22.74 per cent of the vote, while the NDP had 7,103 votes and 26.21 per cent of the vote.

2011 resulted in a Liberal victory with 12,081 votes and 48.46 per cent of the vote. The PCs finished with 6,072 votes and 24.36 per cent, while the NDP finished third with 5,426 votes and 21.76 per cent of the vote.