Some Doug Ford supporters in London don't need numbers to stand behind the PC leader's promises.
Ford's Rally for a Better Ontario event was held at the London Convention Centre Wednesday evening. Over 500 people attended his last rally in London at the Lamplighter Inn on March 26.
During his speech, Ford spoke about his campaign's many promises like lowering hydro rates and taxes, creating more jobs and making Ontario "open for business," giving tax breaks to small businesses, getting an auditor to review ministries' finances, and investing in healthcare.
The PC party recently published a detailed list of their campaign promises called “For The People: A Plan for Ontario." The plan includes some cost projections for individual initiatives but fails to provide a full fiscal plan.
However, London resident John Brotzel says it doesn't bother him that Ford's platform still doesn't have a full fiscal plan.
"How could you put one together? He's not driving the bus, he doesn't know where the bus has really gone or is going," he says. "He can see from the sidelines, but until you really see where the dirt lies and what's gone wrong, how could you make a plan that you could stick to and really conscientiously believe is right?"
Brotzel says we need a business person like Ford to run the province.
"We've been run by clowns and left-wing socialists," says Brotzel. "We need a businessman who's successful and a man who understands how to do business. Business is what the province is all about."
Another supporter at the rally, Meg Young, says she knows the province needs change and Ford is going to be the man to do it. She isn't phased by the leader's lack of a platform either.
"I think he has a great team and it will all come together," she says. "I guess we just don't know everything that goes on behind the scenes."
London West PC candidate Andrew Lawton was not present at the rally, despite getting flack for not attending Ford's last appearance in London on May 18. Lawton has been in hot water over several controversial comments he made in the past.
Kelly Ciprieni, a constituent in the London West riding, says she gets why Lawton didn't show up but thinks the playing field should be equal.
"The NDP [has] had a lot of controversy with their candidates too and they're kind of covering it," she says. "It should be equal I guess if they're doing it with Lawton as well."
Ford refused to take any questions from media at the event.
[gallery size="medium" ids="1905984,1905983,1905982,1905981,1905979,1905978,1905977,1905976,1905975" orderby="rand"]