Who Is Really Running The Show In Ontario?

There is little question in my mind that in the depths of his shallow soul, Doug Ford, like his philosophical father Mike Harris, believes that government 'interference' is what makes the lives of people difficult. Indeed, that could help explain the following remarkable exchange, posted by Daniel Enright on Twitter. As you will see, it appears that within his own government, Ford seems to have contracted out his policy-making. That, of course, begs the question, "Who is really running the show in Ontario?"

Please forgive the duplication of each preceding message, as that is what the Twitter embed codes gave me.

2/ He said he was still at work and that’s why he was getting back to me so late. He said he had been making calls all night and seemed to think I was worried about teachers....(i am, but not why I texted).

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

3/ He started telling me how great a job “99.99% of the teachers do.” He said there would be an announcement tomorrow (Friday) that would clarify things and he further said that no teachers would lose their jobs.

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

4/ I informed him that my friend wasn’t a teacher and that she worked in autism service. He told me he “never promises anything 100%” but that he would try and make sure she got a job. I said that the governments cuts feel wide and deep and I asked if things were really that bad.

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

5/ He told me he was going through the budget line by line. That he’s investing more money here and there and that he’s cutting responsibly (!!) and that it could have been much worse (thanks I guess?) I asked about our social safety net. He changed the subject to the media:

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

6/ he said that the Toronto Sun gives him shit for not cutting enough, and the Star for cutting too much. I asked about his cuts, like today’s story about cancelling the planting of 50 million trees.... and here’s where it gets strange..... He had no idea. He just like, told me.

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

7/ The Premier of Ontario told me he saw that story about the trees and called his office to find out what that was all about. He said “my people told me” the best stewards of the environment are the Forestry industry, and they already have 60 million trees scheduled for planting

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

8/ he had no idea it was happening. Or that people were talking about it. It was the same thing when I asked about cuts to legal aid, “what I was told was that there were less cases, and more lawyers taking fees.” I asked where that # came from, he told me “it’s what i was told”

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

9/ I asked about saving legal aid as way to save money on the back end by investing in the front end. He said he would be happy to discuss the facts at another time. He didn’t have them at hand. We finally returned to the issue of my friend’s lay off:

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

10/he asked my name again and what part of town she worked in (?) I told him. He said he would help.... and here’s what he suggests: send a resume to premier@ontario.ca

and this is the insane payoff for Ford Inc.....

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

11/ Ford inc. picks up votes one at a time. They won’t make sure everyone has a job, or that everyone gets their sidewalk shovelled, they’ll make cuts and handle people who complain one at a time. And it works.
They vote Ford....he fixed a railing, he installed a speed bump.....

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

12/ when I raised a question on the Conservatives, I couldn’t believe how much effort he put into to distensing himself from “political parties.”
“The people vote for me and they voted for Rob. That’s who we work for.”
He said we’d stay in touch.....

You should call him up

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019

13/ to be clear, I have no idea how or who is running this province. I spoke to a man who didn’t seem to have a grasp of the facts, the effects of his cuts, or how hollow his words sound. I wish I had the energy to keep talking. But it’s all so defeating. Maybe next time.....

— Daniel Enright (@Thisisupcountry) April 26, 2019