Ontario PC Leader Doug Ford vowed to end careless spending as he spoke to Chatham-Kent residents during a rally on Friday.
As part of the “Rally for a Better Ontario” event, the PC leader attended the John D. Bradley Centre in Chatham Friday evening, along with Lambton-Kent-Middlesex PC MPP Monte McNaughton and Chatham-Kent Essex PC MPP Rick Nicholls.
Ford entered the convention centre to the song "Eye of the Tiger" as MPP Nicholls said June 7 is Premier Kathleen Wynne’s last day in office. His stop in Chatham was one of several on Friday, as Ford tries to rally support in the southwest ahead of the provincial election in June.
During his speech, Ford said the "party" with taxpayer money is over and promised to call for a government audit if he is elected.
"Doug is trying to talk about accountability in our leadership, in our province," said Bill Parks, a local man who attended the rally. "He's trying to attack the problem of spending a dollar and [not] getting value for your money and that's what we need. We don't need money just thrown around."
Ford reaffirmed that he intends to fire the CEO head of Hydro One and use the money to fund frontline health care. He said more long-term care beds and cutting hydro rates, along with the debt, are his priorities.
In a sentiment that echoed the 2016 US presidential campaign, one member of the CK crowd chanted "lock her up" in reference to Premier Wynne. It stands as one of many parallels between the two elections on opposite sides of the border, with Wynne even going so far as to compare Ford to Donald Trump earlier this week.
Judy from Thamesville, who asked to not have her last name included, said the recent attacks between Ford and the premier don't sit well with her, but it's something that's bound to happen.
"[His campaign] is just starting. I hope he gets a platform soon so we've got something to go by," she said.
Parks added there are some issues that Ford has not addressed enough, but he expects that his supporters will help him get there.
"We've discussed it with it [so] he knows. Has he got it all done? No, but he's working on it," said Parks. "It's better than what we've got."
-With files from Paul Pedro
