It was a rocky campaign stop in London for Doug Ford as one of his local candidates was noticeably missing and local reporters were limited to just a single question.
The Ontario Progressive Conservative leader made a stop at Advanced Medical Group on Victoria St. on Friday morning but was not joined by his hand-picked London West candidate Andrew Lawton. The former radio host's absence raised eyebrows and did not appear to be a subject Ford wanted to address.
Ford walked away without answering as reporters shouted "where is your London West candidate?" and "where is Andrew Lawton?"
Other local PC candidates Susan Truppe (London North Centre) and Eric Weniger (London Fanshawe) were present for Ford's visit.
When reached for comment by Blackburn News, Lawton simply said he was out knocking on doors during Ford's visit.
"20 days until the election so we are canvassing all day every day," said Lawton.
Earlier this week, the Liberals called on Ford to dump Lawton by Thursday's nomination deadline as pressure over past controversial comments made by Lawton continued to mount. Critics said the comments that were made online, through podcasts and in print, targeted a number of groups including Muslims, the LGBTQ community, women, and Indigenous peoples in Canada.
Lawton addressed his behaviour in a statement on May 7, in which he blamed his struggle with mental illness. He said there are significant chunks of the period between 2005 and 2013 that he does not remember and as a result vowed to make mental health a major focus if elected.
Ford used his visit to London to announced a PC government would pour $1.9-billion over ten years into mental health and addiction services, housing supports, and dental care for low-income seniors. He also promised to cut hospital wait times by adding 15,000 new long-term care beds within five years and 30,000 over ten years.
"I want our incredible doctors and nurses to know that help is on the way, resources are on the way," said Ford. "We know the problem with health care in Ontario, resources that should be going to the front lines, money that should be spent on more nurses, more doctors, and more front-line workers has instead gone to hiring layers of senior management."
Ford's campaign staff tried to limit media questions to just five at Friday's event. National journalists were quick to ask about now-resigned PC Brampton East candidate Simmer Sandhu, who resigned amid controversy over the alleged internal theft of customer data from the company that operates the 407 Express Toll Route.
A London CBC reporter pressed Ford to take a local question as staffers tried to shut down Friday's event. Ford agreed and was asked whether, if elected premier, he would close any existing supervised drug consumption sites, like the two the public health unit is trying to establish in London.
"I'm going to consult the experts, I'm going to consult the doctors," said Ford. "We will make sure these people get help one way or another."
In the past, Ford has said he was "dead against" supervised consumption sites.
Twenty days until the election, so not letting any opportunity to meet the voters go to waste. Thankful for more great canvassing weather! #knockonwood #onpoli pic.twitter.com/EUeaLhpZVD
— Andrew Lawton (@AndrewLawton) May 18, 2018