Premier Doug Ford said he is focused on “unity” in response to criticism from a Conservative MP and former advisor who accused him of sabotaging the federal Conservatives in an interview with CBC News on Monday night.
Jamil Jivani, a Conservative MP who previously sat as Ontario’s first community opportunities advocate before he resigned in 2022, spoke to the broadcaster after winning re-election in Bowmanville—Oshawa North, calling Ford a “hype man” for the Liberals.
“I’m focusing on unity right across this country,” Ford said Tuesday in response to questions about Jivani’s comments.
“We have to bring this country together like we never have before.”
When asked if he had a message for Pierre Poilievre, Ford said the Conservative leader worked “very, very hard” despite a loss in his longtime Ottawa-area riding.
“It’s hard to run a federal campaign,” Ford told reporters. “The people have spoken. The people are never wrong. They have a reason why they vote the way they do, and I just want to move the province forward.”
During his media availability at Queen’s Park on Tuesday, Ford dodged questions about an ongoing rift between his party and the federal Conservatives, who were not successful in forming government on Monday night.
“I’m proud to be the leader of the PC Party. I don’t give two hoots about political stripes,” Ford said. “If there is a leader federally and they can help Ontario, then I’m going to work with them.”
Ford did not endorse Poilievre during the election campaign, suggesting that he would be staying on the sidelines to focus on mitigating the impact of Trump’s tariffs on Ontario’s economy.
Ford did, however, weigh in on the Conservative leader’s political fortunes after the premier’s long-time campaign adviser Kory Teneycke criticized Poilievre’s campaign strategy.
Teneycke made headlines after accusing Poilievre’s team of “campaign malpractice” as polling emerged suggesting that the Conservatives had blown a 20-point advantage over the Liberals.
When asked about Teneycke’s comments earlier this month, Ford replied, “Sometimes the truth hurts.”
“To be very frank, if Kory was running that campaign, I don’t think Mr. Poilievre would be in the position he’s in right now,” Ford said at the time.
In a subsequent interview, despite backlash from some Conservatives, the premier defended his long-time campaign manager, saying he was “standing up for a friend.”
While Ford and Poilievre held no public events together before or during the election campaign, Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney met over breakfast last month at an Etobicoke diner shortly after Carney was tapped to be the next Liberal leader.
Ford says he’s ‘ready’ to work with PM
In a written statement released earlier Tuesday, Ford said he “stands ready” to work with Carney to “protect Canada” from the economic uncertainty created by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In his statement congratulating Carney, who secured a fourth consecutive term for the federal Liberals with a win on Monday night, Ford listed all of the ways he hopes Carney will “fulfil his commitments” to Ontario and other provinces.
“This election comes at a crucial time for Ontario and for Canada. Workers, families and businesses are navigating the economic uncertainty caused by President Trump’s tariffs and they are counting on all levels of government to work together to protect Canada,” Ford wrote.
“Ontario stands ready to work with the federal government to unleash our economy by cutting red tape so we can make Canada’s economy more competitive, resilient and self-reliant, capable of withstanding tariffs and whatever challenges may come our way.”
In the statement, released Tuesday morning, Ford called on Carney to “speed up approvals for critical mineral and resource development projects,” including the Ring of Fire.
“I am also calling on him to join us in supporting Ontario as we build the future of nuclear, including the first small modular reactors in the G7, as well as the historic infrastructure investments we are making through our plan to build Ontario,” the premier wrote.
“We are ready to work with the new federal government to get these necessary projects, including highways, transit and energy infrastructure, funded, approved and built as quickly as possible.”
Ford added that he wants to work with Ottawa to “tear down internal trade barriers” and boost “economic integration across Canada.”
“I am calling on Prime Minister Carney to join us in supporting new nation-building infrastructure, including pipelines, highways, railways, seaports and airports, to help Canadian goods reach new customers in new markets while binding our country together and reducing our reliance on the United States,” Ford’s statement continued.
Ford said “real and meaningful bail reform” is another priority for the province to “keep the public safe and take violent, repeat offenders” off the streets.
He added that Carney must “meet our national defence commitments” and use “Canadian-made equipment whenever possible.
“I look forward to working with Prime Minister Carney to protect the workers, businesses and communities of Ontario and Canada,” Ford statement concluded.
Correction
A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Jivani once served as a PC MPP. Jivani was appointed by Premier Doug Ford as Ontario’s first community opportunities advocate but was never a member of the Ontario PC caucus. He resigned from the role in 2022.
