Doug Ford takes aim at Hydro One, Sunshine List in first visit to London as Ontario PC leader

Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative leader made his first stop in London since claiming the party’s top job earlier in March.

After touring the Covent Garden Market, Ford made appeared live and in-studio on The Andrew Lawton Show Wednesday afternoon, where he took aim at Hydro One.

In the wake of the release of the Sunshine List, Ford said he’s concerned about the secret millionaires at Hydro One whose salaries are not listed since the Wynne Liberals moved towards privatization.

“The CEO, we know they’re making $450,000, compared to Quebec hydro that’s making $400,000 and running better at a lower cost,” said Ford

“But, it’s not just the CEO. It’s all of the other millionaires underneath them. They’re all sitting there justifying their jobs, and sitting around the big board table while people are struggling to pay their hydro bills,” he said.

Asked about the steps he will take to cut hydro rates, Ford wouldn’t outline anything concrete, saying first, he needs to do a proper review.

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“You hear a lot of rumours. People in the energy sector will come up, and they’ll tell me, ‘Doug, there’s hundreds of millions of dollars here,'” said Ford.

“I want to see proof that it’s there. These are smart people and I do believe them,” he said.

“Trust, but verify.”

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His visit to London comes a couple of weeks after Premier Kathleen Wynne was in the city to help open the volunteer headquarters for London North Centre Liberal candidate Kate Graham.

Ford said the Liberals’ time in office is over.

“They’re days are done. They’re finished, ” he said.

“Kathleen Wynne will sell her soul, will sell anything, even use our own tax dollars to try to buy votes to make sure that she stays, as my late brother would say, ‘on the gravy train.’ And it’s quite the gravy train,” said Ford.

Ford is also holding a rally at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn on Wellington Road, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was also in London last week to speak at a rally in support of London’s Cardiac Fitness Institute.

The provincial election is set for June 7.