I bet that headline caught your attention! Most people either love him or hate him. I am kind of midway between the two. I didn’t vote for Doug Ford when he ran for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party. In his first election as Premier, I voted for him reluctantly. In the Provincial election last year, I voted for him without hesitation.
Of course, he has his warts! Name me a political leader, with the possible exception of those that were in a position of power for only a few months, who didn’t have a few of their own. Perfection is neither a criterion nor a reality when it comes to political leadership.
But Doug Ford really is a man of the people. He displays few pretenses as Premier. He has an “aw shucks” attitude when speaking, loves to get out and about and shake hands (although I haven’t yet seen him kiss a baby) and in a very un-premier-like fashion, actually personally responds to his phone messages and emails. He is more comfortable driving around in his truck than he is in his official chauffeur-driven car.
During his time as Premier, Ford has from time to time fallen short of the mark. He failed to respond as quickly as he should have to the nursing home crisis. And for the life of me, I cannot understand his obstinance in holding on to an annual increase of just one percent per year for many healthcare front-line workers, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic when many of them were stretched to the point of exhaustion and ill health.
In spite of these issues (and others that I am sure his critics will point out), Doug Ford won the last Provincial election by a significant margin. I believe that was primarily because he related to ordinary folks, and they liked him for that.
The question now, of course, is whether Doug Ford will lose that support as a result of the Greenbelt fiasco currently plaguing his government. Certainly, those in the left-leaning media like the Toronto Star are doing everything they can to encourage that and indeed, polling numbers in the immediate future may reflect that as well. But in the long run, I don’t think he will.
For one thing, Ford admits his mistakes and doesn’t throw anyone under the bus to avoid responsibility for them. How many times has Donald Trump, or for that matter Justin Trudeau, admitted to making mistakes? The answer to that would be very close to zero. And how many people have both of these men thrown under the bus in an effort to protect their own skin?
When Doug Ford gets the bit between his teeth, he doesn’t let go. He is one of the first leaders in Canada to actually do something about the lack of housing. He is passionate about it to the point that the Trudeau Government is finally recognizing that they had better get on the bandwagon.
Ford recognizes that adequate housing is directly related to economic growth, that with more jobs being created in Ontario we need more people, and those people will need adequate housing. He also believes that the wider availability of housing will help to stabilize its affordability.
In relation to the Provincial Auditor General’s report, the Ford Government has accepted 14 of her 15 recommendations. He agreed that his government moved too quickly on the Greenbelt issue and that there was insufficient transparency. But he would not move on her recommendation to reverse the decision to remove property from the Greenbelt to build housing. He believes, rightly or wrongly, that as these properties are adjacent to urban areas that require more housing, it was essential to make them available.
It is important to note, I believe, that in her Report, critical as it was, the Provincial Auditor General did not find any evidence that people were tipped off ahead of time or that the Premier or Housing Minister Steve Clarke intervened inappropriately. Consistent with her recommendations, the provincial government has agreed to have both of these matters further investigated in an arms-length process. The Auditor General did say there were problems with process and consultation in relation to the Greenbelt issue.
Was there also collusion? Possibly, but in other circumstances one might call it consultation. Governments consistently consult with stakeholders about issues that relate to their particular sector. No government has all the answers and the smart ones do get advice and input from professionals when contemplating legislation.
Much of the mainstream media has salivated over the Greenbelt matter. However, few of them have given much coverage to the fact that the Ford government added significantly more to the Greenbelt area than it took away. Nor did they particularly reveal that former Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne made changes to the Greenbelt 17 times during her tenure. Nor did I see very much coverage about the conditions for allowing construction on these lands, including requirements for reasonably affordable housing.
Clearly, the Ford Government made some mistakes in its handling of the Greenbelt issue. It has owned up to its mistakes but doubled down in its belief that this is critical to its plan to address the housing problem in Ontario.
Hopefully, there will be lessons learned from all of this. But before we join the rush toward total condemnation, we should remember that this is a government that takes bold steps. Sometimes you falter when you do that.
But in my view, the Ford Government has had more successes than failures; playing a pivotal role in bringing two large automobile-related manufacturing companies here, mandating that secondary school curriculum expose every student to the merits and awards of professional trades, reversing the ridiculous decision of someone in the past to ban the teaching of cursive writing and taking the lead in addressing the critical housing shortage in this province, to name just a few.
Doug Ford is not perfect, but on balance, I believe he has proven time and time again that he has Ontario’s back.
That is good enough for me.
Hugh Mackenzie.
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Patrick Flanagan says
Mr. Mackenzie, your essay earns an A plus as an exercise in spin. But it warrants not even an F in service to the public.
What Mr. Ford did was blatant corruption. He broke an election pledge to conserve a provincial treasure, and handed his friends 8 BILLION in unearned profits. Instead of calling for his head, you repeat his absurd defence, and use irrelevant what-about arguments in the hope that readers will be distracted and move on.
Worse still, though you purport to be a journalist, you scorn those media outlets that do what journalists are supposed to do – hold government leaders to account.
Shame.
Paul Whillans says
“Tyranny of the Minority” is a term that is resurfacing in politics around the world. It is being considered the biggest threat to democracy in the western world.
This is what the Ford government peddles. In this case according to the latest Environics’ poll, 83% believe that the Greenbelt should not be touched (and need not to be touched). And yet we witness the tyranny of the minority as Ford feels that he knows better than his constituents. And he cares less about their wishes.
It matters not that he is willing to accept the 14 lesser recommendations from the Auditor General. Nor does it matter that one conservative opinion writer feels that he is a “man of the people” (on that I call BS). It doesn’t entirely matter what his motivation was. He didn’t run on on breaking up the Greenbelt (quite the opposite). As such he crossed an anti-democratic line by wilfully proceeding against the will of Ontarians.
Western democracies need more leaders that are respectful of democracy these days…..not fewer. The premier ( and the Minister of Natural Resources….our MPP….who colluded with the rest of government to make this happen) are unfit for office if they don’t reverse this policy (Recommendation 15).
Ian McTavish says
Hugh, in your piece you mentioned that the Doug Ford government mandated that secondary school curriculum expose every student to the merits and awards of professional trades. In July they announced 5.4 million dollars for tech trailers. I firmly believe this money could have been better spent as many tech classes are forced to rethink student projects as material costs have risen while classroom budgets have not. Under the previous Liberal governments curriculum was rolled out a year in advance allowing teachers time to plan effectively while now curriculum is released in June and even then can change. Teachers have patiently continued working for a year without a contract.
Nancy Long says
I’m starting at the end of this commentary. It states that the Ford conservative government: ” playing a pivotal role in bringing two large automobile-related manufacturing companies here, mandating that secondary school curriculum expose every student to the merits and awards of professional trades, reversing the ridiculous decision of someone in the past to ban the teaching of cursive writing and taking the lead in addressing the critical housing shortage in this province, to name just a few”, and this is quite ridiculous. None of these items have been managed appropriately. School children have always been aware of a career in trades, critical housing has gotten worse under the conservatives, and really cursive writing is a non-issue.
Ford does pretend to be a man of the people. But he’s not really. He used to do personal messages and reply to emails. That doesn’t happen anymore. Yes he might drive a truck, but trucks nowadays are luxury vehicles. I don’t see him on a bike, or EV.
He did win the last election by a significant margin. The population in Ontario seems to be blinded by right wing populists. It’s sad and now we are going to pay the price for that by losing our Greenbelt. I’m not sure if you are aware of the many sources of water that originate on it.
Please outline what the conservatives have done about housing. We have had economic growth that’s been unparalleled during his terms, and where is the adequate housing. It just doesn’t match up.
Words are cheap….actions speak. Let’s just watch how the new mayor of Toronto deals with the provincial government. I hope it inspires action.
Greg Reuvekamp says
Will Mr. Whillians apply his “tyranny of the minority” principle to the Trudeau government? Who have only 2 elected MP’s in Alberta and precisely zero elected in Saskatchewan? It’s fair to say the people in those provinces didn’t ask for the draconian rules and regulations that the zealot and extremist Stephen Guilbeault is forcing upon them. Whatever liberties Doug Ford here show he is an amateur when compared to the corruption around the We Charity, Trudeau Foundation, and anything else that the Federal Liberals are involved with
John Whitty says
Undue influence is alive and well in Muskoka.
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/gravenhurst-resident-pens-open-letter-to-mpp-graydon-smith/
I totally agree with Patrick and Paul.
“journalists are supposed to do – hold government leaders to account.
Shame.”
Hugh, you should be ashamed of yourself defending Ford’s “culture of corruption” and reneging on his election promise to protect the Greenbelt.
“he crossed an anti-democratic line by wilfully proceeding against the will of Ontarians.”
Correct. You approve of that as well Hugh? Wow.
It’s clear the Greenbelt land is NOT needed for housing as the AG stated. Yet Ford continues to repeat that falsehood over and over.
Another snake oil salesman.
The land his buddies bought was “protected” when they bought it. I’m sure it’s just a coincidence Ford reversed the “protection” and they stand to make $8.3 billion.
Just a coincidence.
Allen Markle says
Interesting reading!! A verbal contortion, trying to weave reason into a policy of errors, mistruths, and incompetence. Simply ecause Doug Ford claims to be a ‘conservative’? Which he is not. He’s Doug Ford and in this for ‘Doug Ford’.
In my opinion, he cannot be justified by argument. And not worth the effort.
Mike Block says
In response to Greg Reuvekamp:
I am not sure why you need to include Justin Trudeau in a discussion about Doug Ford. There are lots of other people doing things people don’t like. This article is advocating that Doug Ford is great, not that he is worse than Justin Trudeau.
In fact, it’s not even whether you like that he’s a man of the people. It’s whether you believe that he is upholding what he said he would do and whether he is listening to the desires of the people of Ontario and the stakeholders his decisions have a direct impact on.
Short answer, he is not.
Also, stating that someone else is more corrupt, doesn’t excuse the corruptions led by the person in question, Doug Ford. If he’s taking this corruption on the nose, why hasn’t he admitted it needs reconsideration? Doug Ford is a master of hiding away when there’s trouble and popping back in when he thinks the coast is clear. He loves to blame others (especially feds) for everything.
One other question for Hugh Mackenzie: You state that “Kathleen Wynne made changes to the Greenbelt 17 times during her tenure”. Were these changes expansions or removals? Did she promise not to touch the Greenbelt? What are the specifics around this, and did it provide a cash grab for developers when it was done? These empty comments without reference will get taken as fact without ever having to explain the specifics. This is poor journalism…
Mike Block says
Found a reference on the 17 changes made by the liberals:
https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/doug-ford-defends-greenbelt-land-swap-says-liberals-also-made-changes/article_36d141bc-4cdf-5689-a693-b591fc0836ca.html
It was 340 acres in the 17 changes compared to 7,400 acres in 1 change. Ummm – not quite the same there Hugh.
Greg Reuvekamp says
Every Liberal supporter commenting here thought it was just jim dandy for Kathleen Wynne to charge $10K to meet with rich developers. Just as it was a good thing for the Keilburgers to pay Margaret and Sasha Trudeau $350K for access to the government coffers https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/investigation-reveals-likely-guests-for-ontario-liberal-cash-for-access-fundraisers/article30783097/
Phil Beacock says
Fully agree Hugh! Our federal government bring in immigrants and those people need a local place to live! Green belt it is! No matter where development happens it does something to the environment no doubt there! Just look at Muskoka! Doug Ford has made mistakes but he owns up to it and that is a leader! I voted for Ford and will to continue to do so! Keep up the great work Mr Premier and you to Hugh!
Susan Godfrey says
Mission accomplished Hugh! You’ve riled the readers up enough to comment; good job. Summation from me: Doug Ford is not “good enough” for me or any of those average “folks” he purports to support. Your argument has more holes in it than Swiss cheese..see I can be folksy too but it doesn’t mean I’m sincere. Doug Ford’s actions speak volumes.
Diana Mitchell says
I am not up on Government things but have heard (not sure if true or not) that there are lots of places to build without the Greenbelt land, that it is not needed. As well, that this would save tons of money having to provide more facilities (water, sewage, etc.) which would be needed for the Greenbelt area but not in those places already available.
Does anyone know for sure if there really are places available for building without using the Greenbelt?? I would sure like to know if this is true or not – if true then why would Ford insist on wrecking the Greenbelt?
Alex Armstrong says
Hugh, I am rather surprised you did not comment on what a poor job Doug Ford has done on PR. If Doug has ever done anything good, I have not heard about it.
Paul Whillans says
Greg Reuvekamp….Absolutely not a Liberal supporter…..You are just assuming that anyone who is critical of a Conservative must be a Liberal supporter (right out of the Trump playbook). I agree with Mike Block, no matter how many times, you quote someone else’s misdeeds, it doesn’t make Premier Ford’s actions any more representative of his constituent’s wishes…..As for Mr Beacock, please note that the government’s OWN commission on housing stated that the housing crisis could be dealt with more effectively by using land more efficiently within cities and that the Greenbelt was not necessary……everyone understood that except Mr Ford, and his MPP yes men (especially our own Mr Smith who as Minister changed regulations to permit the land swaps) and the conservative sycophants (you?, Mr Mackenzie? Mr Reauvekamp?) who are a minority in this province.
Ralph Cliffe says
Hugh, you can publish anything you want I won’t be reading
any more of your articles. You and Ford are an insult to the voters.
Without Prejudice.
Jade Ans says
Doug Ford owns up to his mistakes and doesn’t blame anyone else? Have you not been paying attention?? He blames the Liberals at every turn, both federally and the past provincial government.
How can you say “he’s a man of the people” when he’s destroying the greenbelt to make his developer friends even richer?
How can you say he’s “for the people” when he’s destroying what’s left of our healthcare to make his friends with private nursing companies and LTC homes rich while screwing the little guy, again? He’s underfunding healthcare by billions!
How can you say he’s doing a “good job” with education? He’s underfunding it by billions too! How is reintroducing cursive writing going to help with all his cuts or help students at all for their future.
You may not have voted for him, but you seem just like one of his media puppets. Telling us how great he is, and how for the people he is like their rest of us can’t see the truth. Doug Ford is corruption personified and he needs to resign.
Governments that take “bold moves” like selling out their people don’t deserve to be in government.
Hugh Holland says
Hugh, I agree with you that Doug Ford is no intellectual genius. Most of them become professors and not politicians. But Doug is a down to earth practical guy and let’s give credit where credit is due to both levels of government. Politics is the art of the possible, and unlike any other conservative premier or aspiring Prime Minister, he has been able to work constructively with the federal government to do good things on important files such as management of the Covid pandemic, securing a future for our important auto industry, and so far, Ontario’s position and actions on nuclear energy are consistent with federal support and directions on the all-important energy-environment files. If we don’t get those files right, nothing else will matter much to our grandkids.
To accommodate the transit needs of all the new people who will live in all those new houses, Doug is returning the Ontario Northland Railway with new modern rolling stock, and it is necessary to encroach on less than half of 1% of the greenbelt for the two proposed highway extensions. But the staffer who managed the greenbelt land process is the scapegoat and he resigned last night. It has been well established that it is not necessary to encroach on the green belt for housing and the obscene profits of those two developers just smells very bad. $8 billion will build at least 2,000 very nice homes. Doug should give up on that one.
Brian Thompson says
Hugh
I have to admit I was stunned in your defense of Premier Ford and his henchmen in defense of this violation of the public trust regarding the opening of protected lands within the Green Belt.
So many documented studies that proved the Premiers goals could be met without further violation of the Peoples Green Belt.
First, for his 50 Thousand new homes, it would appear there are already available lands to accommodate those builds without infringing on the Green Belt, even from his own staff…..
Secondly, his position in thwarting nurse salary increases to 1 percent while others in health care were given significant increases, smacks of Machiavellian intents, especially when he opened health care services that might attract those same Nurse to the private sector? Made me just a little bit suspicious.
Hugh.
Allen Markle says
Ford and crew are, and were wrong from the get-go. I think it’s pretty much a given that the process used to subject green belt land to development was tainted, and is unnecessary. Auditor General Lysyk pointed it out to everyone, ‘wrong lane’ or not, and Ford grudgingly accepted her findings, except for the one were there should be no development on the protected land.
Even the possibility of gleaning a portion of an 8 billion dollar windfall is too much for the man. He can now spell greed, avarice and oink. And let no one endanger that possibility. Ryan Amato, who took directions from Housing minister Clark, who takes instruction from Ford, has become a casualty of the process. A ‘take one for the team’ maneuver for sure. (Believe I heard that in Huntsville a while ago) I don’t suppose the man will suffer much within the party. Just stashed out of sight as a means of deflecting some of the heat away from those most deserving.
It all brings me to my question for Hugh Mackenzie and Greg Reuvekamp. What contortions of logic and mental gymnastic must be performed, for sub par work of one person and party, to be justification for an asinine performance of another. Does such exercise cause fatigue?
Just curious.
Sandy McLennan says
“one might call it consultation”. Seriously?
The Auditor General reported that the lands removed from the protected Greenbelt in December 2022 for housing development were “not chosen using an objective and transparent selection process,” and that well-connected land developers were given “preferential treatment” during the selection process.
As for the resignation of the housing chief of staff: doesn’t look good. If he acted on his own, that would be a mighty powerful public servant. Someone knows something; we’ll see what the RCMP assessment is.
Just a reminder how important it is to vote, demonstrating you take that responsibility and freedom seriously: in the 2022 election the PC party got 40.8% of the votes from a turnout of 44.06% of registered voters = 18 voters out of 100.
Anna-Lise Kear says
Sandy McLennan, couldn’t agree with you more. This is what we get when Ontarians don’t go to the polls.
You get what you elect.
Some telltale warnings about Ford Conservatives:
1] the use of populism in campaigning – again “the elites” tramped out (watch for this again in PP campaigning), to create a niche of “the common man”. Recall the money machine behind the Conservative Party – it is legendary and describes their ongoing legacy.
2] Rob and Doug Ford ran close to crossing the ethical winds while they were Toronto city councilors (several times).
3] Doug calls the plays, as in football coaching and hopes the ref doesn’t notice any potential breach; he ran physical interference for his brother who knocked a councilor off her feet.
4] Doug can make disparaging remarks about female MPPs – some true colours there.
5] When former Toronto Mayor, David Crombie quit Ford’s environmental group looking at this development – it should have been a red flag for all progressive conservatives as to underlying ethical shenanigans
6] another red flag clue: the Strong Mayor’s act
We need “Green” Party representation from this riding – and wait for the Conservatives to catch-up in the meanwhile that climate change is real and that a wise response is necessary. I suggest this be a starting point federally as well.