29 April: Ontario Premier Doug Ford is urging national unity following criticism from newly re-elected Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, who accused him of weakening the federal Conservative campaign. Jivani, who previously served as Ford’s community opportunities advocate, labeled the premier a “hype man” for the Liberals after securing victory in Bowmanville—Oshawa North.
Responding to Jivani’s remarks during a media appearance at Queen’s Park, Ford avoided direct confrontation, stating, “I’m focusing on unity right across this country. We have to bring this country together like we never have before.”
When asked about Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre’s performance, Ford acknowledged the difficulty of federal campaigning, commending Poilievre’s effort despite losing his long-held seat in Carleton. “The people have spoken. The people are never wrong. They vote for a reason, and I just want to move the province forward,” he said.
Amid ongoing speculation about tensions between Ontario’s Progressive Conservatives and their federal counterparts, Ford dismissed partisanship. “I’m proud to be the leader of the PC Party. I don’t give two hoots about political stripes,” he said, adding that he’s open to working with any federal leader who supports Ontario’s interests.
Ford notably stayed neutral during the election campaign, declining to endorse Poilievre and instead focusing on economic issues, particularly Trump’s tariffs. Still, he recently defended his longtime advisor Kory Teneycke, who publicly criticized Poilievre’s campaign strategy as a “malpractice.” Ford echoed that sentiment, saying, “Sometimes the truth hurts,” and added that Poilievre’s situation might have been different if Teneycke had overseen the campaign.
Although Ford and Poilievre didn’t appear together publicly during the campaign, Ford met with Liberal Leader and now Prime Minister Mark Carney last month in Etobicoke, signaling a working relationship ahead.
In a written statement released Tuesday, Ford congratulated Carney on his election win and expressed willingness to collaborate with the new federal government to combat economic challenges tied to U.S. tariffs. “Ontario stands ready to work with the federal government to unleash our economy by cutting red tape… making Canada more competitive and resilient,” Ford wrote.
He urged Carney to act swiftly on key Ontario priorities, including faster approvals for resource projects like the Ring of Fire, support for small modular nuclear reactors, and investment in major infrastructure including highways, transit, and energy.
Ford also pushed for tearing down internal trade barriers, supporting nation-building projects such as pipelines, railways, ports, and airports to increase economic integration across Canada and reduce U.S. dependency. Additionally, he called for stronger bail reform to address public safety and demanded the federal government prioritize Canadian-made equipment in fulfilling national defence obligations.
“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney to protect the workers, businesses and communities of Ontario and Canada,” Ford concluded.
