Despite the continued grumblings over the Greenbelt, Ontario Premier Doug Ford found a large, friendly audience in Windsor-Essex.
Ford stopped by the Ciociaro Club in Tecumseh Friday evening for a public barbeque called "Ford Fest". A large crowd defied heavy rain to attend the event, which featured free food, live entertainment, and rides.
The gathering, funded by the Ontario PC Party, brought together numerous municipal and provincial officials, and local labour leaders. Among those expected to attend were Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, Essex MPP Anthony Leardi, and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
During his remarks, shared with WindsorNewsToday.ca, Ford thanked labour and community partners who have supported several regional projects. He noted several initiatives, including Windsor's NextStar Energy electric vehicle battery plant, which is under construction and set to open next year.
Ford also touted the government's support for the new acute care hospital, the expansion of Highway 3 between Essex and Leamington, and a new interchange connecting Lauzon Parkway to Highway 401.
“After decades of neglect, this community finally has a voice at Queen’s Park. And together with the mayors and all of our partners, we are delivering for Windsor-Essex. We are setting up this community for success,” said Ford. “This is what getting it done for Windsor-Essex looks like. This is what’s possible when you have a strong local voice and strong local partners working together.”
"Ford Fest" was held the same week the Ontario Auditor General released a scathing report on plans to build housing on previously-protected portions of the Greenbelt. The report confirmed suspicions raised by the opposition NDP that developers with ties to the Ford government saw their land value skyrocket after the land was opened.
At a news conference Friday morning in Mississauga, Ford and Housing Minister Steve Clark denied that anyone got preferential treatment. When asked by reporters why the government opened the Greenbelt for development when its housing task force said it wasn't necessary, Clark said the task force's report was 19 months old with outdated information.
-with files from Ruby Sweeney
