TORONTO – Ontario’s premier says voters will have a “stark” choice between her Liberal party and the Progressive Conservatives led by Doug Ford in the province’s spring election.
Kathleen Wynne says Ford being made leader of the official Opposition this weekend won’t change how her party plans for the June vote, pitching herself as the candidate ready to invest in people.
Ford won the Tory leadership late Saturday night, narrowly beating out former Tory legislator Christine Elliott, who did not initially concede.
COMMENTARY: Doug Ford can win Ontario election if he keeps things simple
Elliott issued a statement Sunday night saying that after a review of the vote she had concluded Ford won the race, noting that she will run for the Tories in the general election.
LISTEN: Kathleen Wynne on The John Oakley Show
Ford has said he’s focused on uniting the Tories and defeating Wynne.
Get daily news
VIDEO: Doug Ford claims leadership of Ontario’s PC Party in close vote
Wynne noted that she and Ford were very different, and said her party will be focusing on policy in the weeks ahead.
“Mr. Ford and I disagree on a lot of things and there will be a stark choice in June,” she said. “I think what we are putting forward as a platform is very, very different than what any of the Conservatives were putting forward, which is cutting and removing supports from people.”
READ MORE: Christine Elliott concedes Ontario PC Party leadership to Doug Ford
Wynne also downplayed suggestions her party, which has been trailing behind the Tories in the polls, will ratchet up attacks on Ford.
“There’s going to be a lot of conversations about the politics that we’re in. I get that,” she said. “But honestly, what we need to focus on as a government … I need to focus on what it is that people are saying to me in terms of what they need.”
VIDEO: Kathleen Wynne, Andrea Horwath react to Doug Ford’s new role as PC leader