'Catastrophe' for Poor and Vulnerable as Trumpian Climate-Denier Doug Ford Wins Ontario Election

"Doug Ford's plan is billions in cuts that will directly hit the poor, mental health and social services, doctors, nurses, and teachers, social workers, women's legal clinics," Canadian writer and journalist Luke Savage wrote on Twitter following Ford's victory. (Photo: Globe and Mail)

'Catastrophe' for Poor and Vulnerable as Trumpian Climate-Denier Doug Ford Wins Ontario Election

"We've seen a Ford victory before, and we fought back. It's time to fight again."

In what critics are lamenting as a "disastrous" outcome for Ontario's poor and vulnerable, Doug Ford--the Trumpian, climate-denying brother of late Toronto mayor and self-avowed racist Rob Ford--will become the premier of Canada's most populous province after his Progressive Conservative Party emerged victorious in Thursday's closely-watched election.

"Doug Ford's plan is billions in cuts that will directly hit the poor, mental health and social services, doctors, nurses, and teachers, social workers, women's legal clinics."
--Luke Savage, journalist

Ford's right-wing Progressive Conservative Party (PC) ultimately won 76 of the 124 seats in Ontario, despite the fact that over a quarter of its candidates "are currently facing lawsuits, probes, and police investigations."

"Doug Ford's plan is billions in cuts that will directly hit the poor, mental health and social services, doctors, nurses, and teachers, social workers, women's legal clinics," Canadian writer and journalist Luke Savage wrote on Twitter following Ford's victory. "This isn't a laugh, it's a social catastrophe that's going to put vulnerable people's lives in danger."

Others responded similarly to Ford's victory, denouncing him as a "climate-denier" and highlighting the fact that his candidacy was welcomed by white supremacists hoping a Ford government would "give people permission" to be racist.

While Ford has repeatedly been described as a "populist," he--like Trump--is a wealthy businessman whose campaign platform included tax cuts for the rich, a minimum wage freeze, and fervent opposition to the carbon tax.

"Make no mistake, Doug Ford's election is a disaster for Toronto. Whether on public transit, affordable housing, or harm reduction services, his agenda is bad news for the residents of Toronto," City Councillor Joe Cressy wrote Friday morning. "However, we've seen a Ford victory before, and we fought back. It's time to fight again.

Join Us: News for people demanding a better world


Common Dreams is powered by optimists who believe in the power of informed and engaged citizens to ignite and enact change to make the world a better place.

We're hundreds of thousands strong, but every single supporter makes the difference.

Your contribution supports this bold media model—free, independent, and dedicated to reporting the facts every day. Stand with us in the fight for economic equality, social justice, human rights, and a more sustainable future. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover the issues the corporate media never will. Join with us today!

Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.