‘Ford Nation’ sweeps through Ontario, PCs earn majority government

Doug Ford will be Ontario’s next premier, leading the Progressive Conservatives to a majority government in a stunning shift of power on Thursday night.

A beaming Ford addressed his raucous supporters following his victory, saying he vowed to get right to work to put more money in taxpayers’ pockets.

“We have taken back Ontario,” he said to chants of “Doug! Doug! Doug!”

“We have delivered a government that is for the people and will respect your hard earned tax dollars. And my friends, the party with your hard earned tax dollars is over. It’s done!”

“Tonight, we have sent a clear message to the world: Ontario is open for business.”

Echoing U.S. president Donald Trump, Ford promised to usher in “an era of economic growth and prosperity the likes of which the province has never seen before.”

“My friends, a new day has dawned in Ontario,” he said, his voice quivering. “We are going to turn this province around so our children and their children will always be proud to call Ontario home.”

Moments after Ford spoke, a glum Kathleen Wynne announced that she was stepping down as Liberal party Leader.

“I am resigning as the Leader of the Ontario Liberal party,” Wynne said, choking up. “I have spoken to the party president and asked him to start the process of choosing an interim leader. It is the right thing to do,” she added. “There is another generation and I am passing the torch to that generation.”

While Wynne announced her resignation, the Liberals status as an official party remained in limbo. As of 10:50 p.m. the Liberals had yet to claim the eight seats needed.

But the status of the NDP as Official Opposition was cemented.

“I am deeply humbled that Ontarians have asked us to serve as the new Official Opposition,” NDP Leader Andrea Horwath beamed to a cheering sea of orange.

“Today millions of people voted for change for the better. We have won more seats than we have held in a generation.”

Despite falling short after late polls showed her in a dead heat with Ford, Horwath said she was pleased with the result and proud of the NDP party.

“We rejected the politics of fear and cynicism and we put hope and vision for a better future … and Ontarians responded like never before!”

Thursday’s resounding PC victory caps a more than month-long campaign that saw Ford’s focus shift from arch-rival Wynne to Horwath, as the NDP leader’s popularity surged.

Ford’s opponents criticized him for not releasing a fully costed platform, but Ontarians took a leap of faith on Thursday night, clearing the path for the first PC victory in Ontario since 1999.

Polls heading into the final stretch showed Ford and Horwath in a virtual dead heat while Wynne humbly admitted defeat, urging Ontarians to vote Liberal to prevent a Conservative or NDP majority.

It didn’t work as Ford’s populist message resonated with an electorate thirsty for change after a scandal-plagued 15-year Liberal reign.

With Horwath often polling as the most popular of the main three party leaders, Ford began attacking her candidates, calling them “radicals” who were ill-prepared to form a competent cabinet.

It was a painful night for the Ontario Liberals, with several prominent cabinet ministers losing their seats.

Less than a week before Ontarians headed to the polls Wynne conceded her own defeat. Her popularity plummeted in tandem with rising hydro bills that both Ford and Horwath vowed to tame.

Despite her party’s dismal results on Thursday, Wynne managed to win her seat in Don Valley West.

It’s not the first time a Ford has catapulted from punchline to powerhouse.

Doug’s brother, the late Rob Ford, was widely dismissed when he announced he was running for mayor of Toronto in March 2010.

But the long-time city councillor’s promise to “stop the gravy train” and put an end to government misspending saw him elected with nearly 50 per cent of the vote.

Doug Ford didn’t stray far from his brother’s popular mantras. His campaign slogan was “For The People” and he promised to lower corporate and small business taxes, slice the gas tax by 10 cents, and cut dreaded hydro bills by 12 per cent while returning Hydro One dividends to families.