If you’re still puzzled by Doug Ford’s on-again off-again, endorsement non-endorsement of Olivia Chow for mayor, get used to it.
asserted
you → puzzle → it
There’s more where that came from.
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that → ’ → where
Ford went off script this month by first telling reporters how terrific Chow can be:
“The mayor and I have a phenomenal relationship,” he said onstage as she listened, bemused, beside him.
asserted
she → go → him
“We’re going to continue supporting the mayor, she’s doing an incredible job — so read between the lines.”
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she → go → lines
Premier Doug Ford took to the airwaves Friday in another bid to limit the political fallout following widespread media reports he gave a tacit
Premier Doug Ford took to the airwaves Friday in another bid to limit the political fallout following widespread media reports he gave a tacit
And when that made headlines, and lit up the telephone lines at Queen’s Park, well, the premier’s office came up with new press lines: Ford’s handlers mumbled that he meant no such thing and that, ahem, he wasn’t endorsing anybody, anyhow, anytime.
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he → take → anybody
To which one might retort and restate: Read between the lines.
uncertain
one → retort → lines
Ford clearly harbours an unexpected affinity and affection for his erstwhile adversaries — more than merely the mayor of Toronto.
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Ford → harbour → Toronto
The result is a lot of unhappy, upset and unforgiving political partisans who do a double take when their leaders bestow praise on campaign rivals.
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leaders → do → rivals
Chow’s camp, comprised of many fellow New Democrats and self-styled progressives, seemed to squirm over Ford’s gushing words.
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camp → comprise → words
They prefer to see the Tory premier as a nemesis, not an admirer working hand-in-glove with their fearless leader of the left.
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They → prefer → left
Perhaps that’s because partisan actors and election donors are overexposed to overheated rhetoric, which is crafted to stoke passions and suck in donations.
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which → ’ → donations
Fundraising email blasts routinely demonize and dehumanize opposing campaigns.
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blasts → demonize → campaigns
We pay too much attention to the sarcasm in attack ads and the snark on social media.
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We → pay → media
It brings out the worst in unhinged and unfiltered antagonists, which is then amplified by anger algorithms online.
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which → bring → algorithms
Yet just because hard core partisans are confused, or donors feel double-crossed, doesn’t mean Ford and Chow and the other politicians who make peace are on the wrong track.
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who → confuse → track
Dig a little deeper and it turns out many Canadians like seeing their leaders liking each other — or at least getting along
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leaders → dig → other
In politics as in life, many Canadians are perfectly capable of holding two seemingly opposing positions — cognitive dissonance is overrated.
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dissonance → hold → positions
History shows that many voters support politicians from opposing parties from one election to the next.
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voters → show → next
Ontarians are famous for sending Tories to Queen’s Park while dispatching Liberals to Parliament Hill.
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Ontarians → send → Hill
This province is one big Venn diagram, and Ford understands this ostensible contradiction better than many.
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Ford → understand → many
Chow isn’t the only politician from a different party whom he co-opts, co-operates and collaborates with.
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he → co → -
Consider how he teamed up with former prime minister Justin Trudeau; after first badmouthing him, the two cheerfully appeared together at public events.
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two → consider → events
Ford has also forged close relationships with federal cabinet ministers, from (former deputy prime minister) Chrystia Freeland to Melanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc.
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Ford → forge → Joly
But his relationship with Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney, has surpassed even those heights, with the two leaders hanging out at the premier’s Etobicoke home and Muskoka cottage.
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leaders → surpass → home
As he once explained to me, Ontario Tories and federal Liberals share similar voting coalitions.
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Tories → explain → coalitions
In point of fact, Ford’s own riding of Etobicoke Centre is held federally by a Liberal, John Zerucelli.
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riding → hold → Liberal
But it’s not just political calculus.
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it → ’ → ?
Chow went on a charm offensive when she took office, reassuring Ford that they could do business together.
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they → go → business
“I have a soft spot for the mayor, I do,” Ford gushed at their first formal news conference together two years ago.
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Ford → have → conference
Two other politicians who have campaigned hard against Ford have also become besties: Steven Del Duca, the former Ontario Liberal leader who tried to defeat him in the 2022 election, is now the Vaughan mayor who is frequently on the phone with Ford.
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who → campaign → Ford
He is also the recipient of shameless flattery from him at public events: Del Duca is “one of the best,” Ford said at a recent joint appearance, calling him a “champion” akin to a comrade-in-arms.
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Ford → say → arms
, Ford told the crowd he was “thrilled to be standing with her.”
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he → tell → her
Horwath, in turn, posted on social media, “Thank you, Premier, for the continued partnership and for the strong relationship.”
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Horwath → post → relationship
Her gratitude to Ford prompted a torrent of sniping on X accusing her of betrayal:
“You’re a SELLOUT to one of the most CORRUPT Premiers in Ontario history,” said one.
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one → prompt → history
“This grovelling for Ford is puke worthy,” said another.
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another → say → Ford
You have no spine.”
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You → have → spine
You get the idea.
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You → get → idea
Fidelity to hostility plays well on social media, but if the politicians keep making nice to each other they doubtless have the polling data to back it up.
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they → play → it
The Aporia
