Doug Ford

Doug Ford is a Canadian politician who has served as the 26th Premier of Ontario since June 2018 and as leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario since March 2018. He previously served as a city councillor in Toronto, representing Ward 2 Etobicoke North from 2010 to 2014. His political tenure has been marked by significant policy shifts in areas such as health care, education, and provincial infrastructure.

Early life and career

Born in Etobicoke, a former municipality now part of Toronto, he is the son of Diane and Doug Ford Sr., a former MPP for Etobicoke—Humber. He attended Humber College before entering the business world. Alongside his brother, the late Rob Ford, he worked for the family-owned company Deco Labels and Tags, which was founded by their father. His early career was firmly rooted in the private sector within the Greater Toronto Area, where he developed a reputation as a businessman before entering public life.

Political career

His political career began at the municipal level when he was elected to Toronto City Council in a 2010 by-election, succeeding his brother who had become Mayor of Toronto. During his time on council, he was a prominent and often controversial figure, known for his fiscally conservative views and vocal opposition to policies championed by then-mayor David Miller and his successor. He served as a councillor until 2014, when he ran unsuccessfully for mayor, placing second to John Tory. He shifted to provincial politics, winning the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario in 2018 following the resignation of Patrick Brown.

Premier of Ontario

He led the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario to a majority government in the 2018 Ontario general election, defeating the incumbent Ontario Liberal Party led by Kathleen Wynne. His government's early actions included withdrawing from the cap-and-trade system, cancelling the White Pines Wind Project, and introducing the Federal Carbon Tax Challenge. His first term was dominated by clashes with the government of Justin Trudeau, restructuring of Toronto City Council, and navigating the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, which included declaring multiple states of emergency. He was re-elected with another majority in the 2022 Ontario general election, defeating the Ontario New Democratic Party under Andrea Horwath and the Ontario Liberal Party under Steven Del Duca.

Political positions and policies

His government is generally characterized as populist and conservative, with a focus on reducing government spending and cutting regulations. Key policies have included the Getting Ontario Moving Act, the dissolution of the Green Energy Act, and significant changes to the health care system, such as the expansion of private clinic services and the restructuring of Public Health Ontario. In education, his administration introduced reforms to the sex education curriculum and pursued a contentious agenda regarding autism funding. His government has also been a staunch opponent of the federal carbon pricing plan, launching a legal challenge that reached the Supreme Court of Canada.

Personal life

He is married to Karla Ford and has four daughters. His family has been deeply involved in Toronto politics; his late brother Rob Ford served as mayor, his nephew Michael Ford is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, and his father served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. He has spoken publicly about the influence of his brother's struggles with substance abuse on his perspective. An avid sports fan, he is a longtime supporter of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Toronto Argonauts.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:Premiers of Ontario Category:Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario MPPs Category:Toronto city councillors