After pledging to stay out of Toronto mayor election, Doug Ford jumps in (again)
CBC
Premier Doug Ford has yet again weighed in on the Toronto mayoral race, despite previously saying he was staying out of the election.
Ford delivered his most pointed endorsement to date for the candidacy of Mark Saunders, the former Toronto police chief and failed 2022 provincial Progressive Conservative candidate.
"We need someone that has experience dealing with crime," Ford said Friday when asked about the city's mayoral byelection during an unrelated news conference in Oshawa.
"I believe we need someone that has actually run an operation with a number of employees," Ford added.
He went on to make a statement that appeared to target some of Saunders' chief rivals in the race, including former councillors Ana Bailão and Olivia Chow, as well as current councillors Brad Bradford and Josh Matlow.
"We need someone that knows all of Toronto, not a little ward that they've been representing, but all of Toronto."
WATCH | Doug Ford says he's 'staying out' of mayoral election, then steps into it:
This is not the first time Ford has spoken out to tell Toronto voters what kind of mayor he wants them to choose, although just a few weeks ago, the premier professed neutrality in the race.
"I'm staying out of that election," Ford said on March 22, when asked by a reporter about the growing number of candidates in the race.
"It doesn't matter who gets elected," Ford added. "Good luck to all of them."
Less than a week later, Ford was taking sides.
On March 28, Ford took aim at candidates who he described as "sitting councillors that voted to defund the police."
Although he didn't name names, Ford appeared to be targeting Matlow, who had moved an unsuccessful motion in 2020 for a 10 per cent funding cut to the Toronto police budget, and Bradford, who voted in favour of it.
"The people that voted for defunding the police, don't vote for them, simple as that," Ford said, adding that the next mayor should be someone who understands policing.