NDP candidate for Lanark-Frontenac and Kingston Ramsey Hart is reacting to recent comments from Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford.
Ford took a jab at Hart on Friday at a leaders debate, calling him a professional anti-mining activist, the comment singling him out for his work with MiningWatch Canada.
Hart tells CKWS the attack is a complete fabrication.
“It’s a gross mischaracterization of me and my working past and my character, and I think it’s unfortunate that Ontario politics is going in that direction of name-calling.”
Although Hart is currently executive director of The Table Community Food Centre in Perth, Ont., a modern food bank, the new candidate previously worked at MiningWatch Canada for six years.
The non-governmental watchdog is described as a group that addresses “irresponsible mineral policies and practices in Canada and around the world.” The PC leader claims that Hart “dedicated his entire career to attacking the mining industry.” Hart says his work with MiningWatch Canada was more about keeping the industry in check.
“We worked with communities defending the interests of communities to make sure the environment is protected and make sure people’s quality of life is protected,” Hart says. “It’s not about rampaging across the country and trying to shut down every mine that’s operating.”
The Ontario PC Party‘s official Twitter account posted one of Hart’s past blogs for the Canadian not-for-profit, which talked about the hazards of living next to a mine.
In one tweet, Ford calls Hart, Andrea Horvath’s “star candidate,” adding that Hart “has dedicated his entire career to attacking the mining industry,” and called Hart’s interest in Canadian mining his “personal crusade.”
The candidate says as far as being a “star candidate,” he wasn’t recruited by Toronto and was sought out by local residents in his riding.
Hart is running against the incumbent PC candidate Randy Hillier, as well as Anita Payne with the Green Party and Liberal candidate Amanda Pulker-Mok.
WATCH: Horwath calls out Ford’s environmental policy: ‘Where is your plan?’ at Ontario Northern Leaders debate
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