Ontario Premier Doug Ford has told Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre he’s “staying out” of Sunday’s expected federal election call, rebuffing the Conservative leader’s request for campaign advice.
The Toronto Star, citing sources familiar with the phone call said Poilievre waited 18 days after Ford’s February 27 re-election to make the belated congratulatory call. Their Monday phone conversation, described as “stilted and awkward” due to the two Conservative politicians’ minimal personal rapport, lasted nearly half an hour.
“I’m staying out of it,” Ford told Poilievre, according to sources, repeating what he’s said publicly.
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The timing is particularly notable as new Liberal Leader Mark Carney’s popularity surges in polls and Poilievre — who was leading by a solid 20 points just a few months ago — has fallen behind.
This phone call also came days after Ford met with Carney at Wally’s Grill in Etobicoke to discuss strategies for handling Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian goods.
And then the morning after speaking with Poilievre, Ford was spotted having coffee at his home with Liberal Transport Minister Chrystia Freeland, who later attended Wednesday’s provincial cabinet ceremony as a special guest.
When reporters asked Ford about his relationships with the federal leaders, he was blunt: “I don’t know either one of them, to be very frank,” adding he would “work with anyone” elected.
The cool relationship isn’t new. In 2019, when Ford’s approval ratings plummeted, then-Conservative leader Andrew Scheer avoided appearing with the premier during Ontario campaign stops.
On Thursday, Poilievre told reporters in Quebec he wasn’t “seeking provincial premiers’ endorsements” — three days after Ford had already indicated he wouldn’t be offering one.
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