Ontario Premier Doug Ford is raising eyebrows after getting involved in Toronto’s mayoral race just a week after saying he wouldn’t.
Despite promising to keep himself neutral, Ford recently sparked backlash for telling people not to vote for a candidate if their plan is to do away with more investments for the city’s police force.
“Enough’s enough for this crime. I’ve never seen anything like it. That should be the number one issue for any mayoral candidate and the mayoral candidates that say they want to cut funding for the police, they want to defund the police – don’t vote for them. Simple as that,” Ford said in a media scrum, after making an announcement about funding for more skilled newcomers at Toronto Pearson Airport on Tuesday.
“Support the candidates that are going to fund the police, that are gonna get more police officers in our subways and our streets because, again, I’ve never seen it this bad ever, absolutely ever.”
Many critics as well as mayoral candidates have said that this could be the premier’s way of giving a nod in former police chief Mark Saunders’ direction.
READ MORE: Who will be the next mayor of Toronto? Here’s the candidates running so far
During a news conference earlier this month, Ford reportedly said it would be “great” if Saunders joined the race. A few weeks later, Saunders confirmed his run.
Mayoral candidate Josh Matlow told CP24 that this was a clear endorsement. Urban planner Gil Penalosa, who is also running for mayor, told the media outlet that Ford’s comments were inappropriate and that he was a “pinocchio.”
The by-election for the city’s next mayor is set to be on June 26.
