Discover and read the best of Twitter Threads about #ClusterFord
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Because balancing growth and the environment is difficult for politicians, it doesn’t mean they don't deal with the issue – unless you're Doug Ford.
So when Doug needs a job done, he goes to his (non) arm's-length appointees on any number of agencies, boards and commissions. /2
So when Doug needs a job done, he goes to his (non) arm's-length appointees on any number of agencies, boards and commissions. /2
Case in point: the post of chair of the Niagara Escarpment Commission is manned by a politician familiar to those who watched Conservative PM Stephen Harper's attempted makeover of Canada from 2006 to 2015. Rob Nicholson, now 70, an inner-circle Harper minister who handled.../3
..portfolios having no apparent ties to the environment, (in National Defence, Justice and Foreign Affairs), now makes decisions impacting a UN-designated biosphere in Ontario.
The appointment by Ford of Nicholson on March 2022 is par for the course: friends and associates.../4
The appointment by Ford of Nicholson on March 2022 is par for the course: friends and associates.../4
#ClusterFord 🧵Rewind to the June 2022 vote:
Hamilton-area PC candidate Neil Lumsden spilled the beans and admits the decision to skip a local all-candidates’ meeting was made by Boss Ford's operatives in the PC party, and not him. “We get direction on a day-to-day basis on.../2
Hamilton-area PC candidate Neil Lumsden spilled the beans and admits the decision to skip a local all-candidates’ meeting was made by Boss Ford's operatives in the PC party, and not him. “We get direction on a day-to-day basis on.../2
"...what we’re going to do,” said former CFL'er Lumsden, running in Hamilton East-Stoney Creek. “I was told that on the (May) 25th, we’re not participating at this point, so that’s the way it is.”
Ford's MPPs failed to appear for debates on a frequent basis in the 2022.../3
Ford's MPPs failed to appear for debates on a frequent basis in the 2022.../3
...campaign, and observers saw the same no-show policy in 2018; 3 of the 4 candidates in Sudbury took part in an online debate May 11/22, but the Ford candidate was absent;
In a CityNews spot check of 34 local debates across the province, 22 PCs did not participate while 10.../4
In a CityNews spot check of 34 local debates across the province, 22 PCs did not participate while 10.../4
TorStar's Regg Cohn works up a thousand words on Doug's Greenbelt severance shocker without a single mention of the racketeer's bloodsucker class of elites -- as usual, a long list of donors to Ford and his PCs -- who stand to benefit from the environmental encroachment. /2
The belligerent Ford is bulldozing the 68.2-km, $7.5B to $10B Hwy 413/Bradford Bypass through the Greenbelt, contrary to expert advice and public opinion. Frank Graves' EKOS firm showed 74% of 905'ers oppose Hwy 413 in a Dec 2021 poll; updated May 2022, 48% of Ontarians ../3
...oppose the project, while only 23% support it. The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers condemned the project in a blog post, May 31, 2022;
The Bradford Bypass will bisect the Holland Marsh and cross 28 Lake Simcoe waterways, yet is exempt from environmental review; /4
The Bradford Bypass will bisect the Holland Marsh and cross 28 Lake Simcoe waterways, yet is exempt from environmental review; /4
Hand it, begrudgingly, to the ego-tripping Muskoka Misanthrope: the Doug Dynasty wields power over 15 million Ontarians with unprecedented efficiency.
Indulging in an ideological experiment favouring a bizarre cross-section of society…
■Covidiots
■Licensed car owners; /2
Indulging in an ideological experiment favouring a bizarre cross-section of society…
■Covidiots
■Licensed car owners; /2
■Food and drug retailers
■Builders and tradesmen
■Employers enrolled in the WSIB
■Police officers and firefighters
■Private medical/schools/daycares
■Brewers
■Christians
■Gamblers…
…King Doug defiantly scorns the many millions refusing to recognize his Ford Nation../3
■Builders and tradesmen
■Employers enrolled in the WSIB
■Police officers and firefighters
■Private medical/schools/daycares
■Brewers
■Christians
■Gamblers…
…King Doug defiantly scorns the many millions refusing to recognize his Ford Nation../3
...tagline, yet his initiatives prevail.
Touching the third rail of the Charter, the infamous s. 33 notwithstanding clause (NWS), Ford changed Toronto's ward map in the middle of the 2018 municipal elections, gagged third-party involvement in the June 2022 provincial../4
Touching the third rail of the Charter, the infamous s. 33 notwithstanding clause (NWS), Ford changed Toronto's ward map in the middle of the 2018 municipal elections, gagged third-party involvement in the June 2022 provincial../4
A #ClusterFord Compilation of the Convoy-friendly Perjurer of Queen's Park:
Dean French, Doug Ford's original chief of staff forced to resign on charges of political cronyism and patronage after only one year on the job, emerges as Ford's behind-the-scenes messenger on.../2
Dean French, Doug Ford's original chief of staff forced to resign on charges of political cronyism and patronage after only one year on the job, emerges as Ford's behind-the-scenes messenger on.../2
..behalf of the Mad Max/Duck Dynasty convoy in meetings with federal government and City of Ottawa officials held to end the nightmare;
French hypes the over-aggressive squatters as "big-rig, blue-collar, big-hearted Canadians, men and women of conviction." But most see his.../3
French hypes the over-aggressive squatters as "big-rig, blue-collar, big-hearted Canadians, men and women of conviction." But most see his.../3
..presence as proof that the premier was hands on during the occupation.
Nevertheless, French makes the laughable contention on Feb 17 (post EA) that he attended on behalf of 80-year-old long-retired former Con premier Brian Peckford.../4
Nevertheless, French makes the laughable contention on Feb 17 (post EA) that he attended on behalf of 80-year-old long-retired former Con premier Brian Peckford.../4
Not even the threshold of 14,000 C19 Ontario deaths surpassed on Sept 1, 2022 could stir the media, interest the denizens of Ford Nation or distract its perverse, bullheaded leader who, channelling his inner Trump, remains completely unwavering in his drive to turn the .../2
..lucrative segments of the health sector into a profit centre for the corporate community;
Abruptly dismantling the free-thinking 30-member Ontario Science Advisory Table amid a 14 C19 deaths/day crisis, Ford continues to relentlessly leverage, through his Health and LTC.../3
Abruptly dismantling the free-thinking 30-member Ontario Science Advisory Table amid a 14 C19 deaths/day crisis, Ford continues to relentlessly leverage, through his Health and LTC.../3
...ministers, a callous disregard for the dislocation of sick seniors, a distrust of public education through his education minister and a fear of science through his Chief Medical Officer of Health Kieran Moore;
Emerging Aug 31, 2022 to declare the end of the 5-day Covid.../4
Emerging Aug 31, 2022 to declare the end of the 5-day Covid.../4
Dean French, forced to resign as Ford's chief of staff for cronyism and patronage in June 2019, becomes his former boss's emissary on behalf of the Mad Max/Duck Dynasty convoy in meetings with federal government and City of Ottawa officials;
The behind-the-scenes intrigue.../2
The behind-the-scenes intrigue.../2
..affirms the premier of Canada's largest province has backchannel ties to an outlaw convoy whose members advocate mass citizens’ arrests and a government overthrow, believe Trudeau is the illegitimate son of the late Fidel Castro of Cuba and that a ridiculous QAnon Queen of../3
...Canada, Romana Didulo, will imminently declare martial law across the land. But Ford wouldn't coordinate with the federal Liberals to settle the occupation;
Ford is unconscionably (and stupidly) absent from 3 tripartite meetings beginning Day 11 of the Mad Max occupation../4
Ford is unconscionably (and stupidly) absent from 3 tripartite meetings beginning Day 11 of the Mad Max occupation../4
The Ghost of Health Ministers past made a visit to the Pink Palace at Queen's Park Aug 17, 2022, with MSM breaking news of former minister turned bean counter Christine Elliott's determination to seek Fordian efficiency by curtailing the volume of expensive but more sensitive../2
...PCR testing at provincial labs;
The mandate letter — signed by Elliott and sent on Oct. 1, 2021 — laid out government expectations for the agency for the year 2022-23. Trouble is the province was in the middle of Wave 4 at the time, which its own data indicates transpired../3
The mandate letter — signed by Elliott and sent on Oct. 1, 2021 — laid out government expectations for the agency for the year 2022-23. Trouble is the province was in the middle of Wave 4 at the time, which its own data indicates transpired../3
...between Aug 1 and Dec 14, 2021;
Faced with massive demand for the tests – but with an election 8 months away – the conniving premier and his soon-to-retire health boss then began placing limits on who qualified for PCR testing, resulting in significant savings for the .../4
Faced with massive demand for the tests – but with an election 8 months away – the conniving premier and his soon-to-retire health boss then began placing limits on who qualified for PCR testing, resulting in significant savings for the .../4
August 2020, residents of Kemptville, near Ottawa, are stunned to learn the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex (EOCC) will occupy 160 acres of prime farmland in their small town. To the dismay of Ford, the Coalition Against the Proposed Prison is demanding the 235-inmate.../2
...facility be placed in an 𝙪𝙧𝙗𝙖𝙣 area;
Nov 2021, Ford's municipal affairs boss, Steve Clark, tried but failed to stifle residents' complaints by triggering an Elections Ontario inquiry, contending the group was illegally protesting, selling anti-prison signs, and .../3
Nov 2021, Ford's municipal affairs boss, Steve Clark, tried but failed to stifle residents' complaints by triggering an Elections Ontario inquiry, contending the group was illegally protesting, selling anti-prison signs, and .../3
...raising funds to send mail-outs to Kemptville businesses and residents outlining their concerns regarding the incoming correctional facility;
Local officials were in talks with former Solicitor General Sylvia Jones (now the embattled Health boss) over regional policing.../4
Local officials were in talks with former Solicitor General Sylvia Jones (now the embattled Health boss) over regional policing.../4
Health Minister Sylvia Jones' 60-day vanishing act during a historic breakdown in hospital services aroused demands for action until she finally did open her mouth to release the bombshell everyone knew was coming;
Declaring "all options" would be on the table to deal with.../2
Declaring "all options" would be on the table to deal with.../2
...the hospitals crisis – as distinct from "solutions" – Jones all but guaranteed the profit motive will become a fundamental feature of the Ontario medical sector;
Only 2 days after her initial Zoom hit with CP24, the under-fire Jones was expanding upon an empty.../3
Only 2 days after her initial Zoom hit with CP24, the under-fire Jones was expanding upon an empty.../3
...Speech from the Throne that satisfied only private sector healthcare operators, roadbuilders, institutional construction managers and private school operators;
Jones, the latest Ford minion serving as fodder for Ford's cannonading attacks on social services, conveniently.../4
Jones, the latest Ford minion serving as fodder for Ford's cannonading attacks on social services, conveniently.../4
Consistent with @FordNation's documented record of failure in business and government, no immediate urgency was found in the Aug 9, 2022 Throne Speech. The healthcare crisis, rising interest rates, high inflation, climate change and the growing possibility of a recession.../2
...spurred Doug Ford to do little more than offer income tax breaks that won't be receivable for months, if not as late as mid-2023;
Pleasing the base, Ford's economic blueprint affirmed Covid-19 "lockdowns" are a thing of the past while confirming action on hospital ER.../3
Pleasing the base, Ford's economic blueprint affirmed Covid-19 "lockdowns" are a thing of the past while confirming action on hospital ER.../3
...lockdowns won't be a present-day, real-time focus in FordWorld; the callous premier offered no immediate solution to overstretched hospitals or relief to desperate HCWs. But the presumptuous Contractor-in-Chief arrogantly projected 10 years of hospital expansions and new.../4
The NordStar Capital News, offering @fordnation a shoeshine, today says the Stealth Campaigner is working diligently alongside his Phantom MPPs, who are:
"...resurrecting the spring budget that served as their campaign platform." /2
thestar.com/politics/provi…
"...resurrecting the spring budget that served as their campaign platform." /2
thestar.com/politics/provi…
Platform? Doug’s "Get it Done" campaign consisted of videos in front of "friends", handouts to drivers and WSIB corp allies and promises for blue collar workers. That activists were gagged for a year by Bill 254 not only escapes the corporate memory of the progressive paper.../3
..it celebrates the grift facilitated by Ford's anti-democratic tactics.
Reporter Benzie forgets a Sup Ct justice found 4 sections of Ford's overreaching gag law breached s. 2 of the Charter based on freedom of expression and that, in response to the rebuke, Boss Ford.../4
Reporter Benzie forgets a Sup Ct justice found 4 sections of Ford's overreaching gag law breached s. 2 of the Charter based on freedom of expression and that, in response to the rebuke, Boss Ford.../4
The NordStar Capital News, aka @TorontoStar, tries below to put a shine on past and present E-vehicle policy signals emanating from the Pink Palace, but reality bites:
July 2018, his second month in office, Ford unilaterally terminates electric and hydrogen vehicle .../2
July 2018, his second month in office, Ford unilaterally terminates electric and hydrogen vehicle .../2
...incentives, a clear breach of contract with Tesla. The move would be described later as "unjustified targeting" and "egregious and unlawful" by an Ontario Superior Court judge, who orders Ford to pay $125,000 in court costs to multi-billionaire Elon Musk;
Ford the.../3
Ford the.../3
.. Ideologue pulled E-car vehicle chargers from GO Train stations in Nov 2018;
Ford then ended a $2.5M incentive program that helped homeowners install their own car-charging equipment;
Ford deleted E-vehicle charging station requirements in the Ontario’s Building Code. /4
Ford then ended a $2.5M incentive program that helped homeowners install their own car-charging equipment;
Ford deleted E-vehicle charging station requirements in the Ontario’s Building Code. /4
Unrelenting in his indolence, still celebrating a PC Party victory two months after it happened, Doug Ford finally emerged Aug 3, 2022 to obfuscate and deflect on hospital department closures, but not before the cowardly label-maker had run his embattled Mistress of Health.../2
.. in front of friendly CP24 news people a day earlier, for a 10-minute Zoom call to answer for the healthcare emergency;
True to form, the media proved unable to formulate follow-up questions to routine deflection from the determined Ms Sylvia Jones, fresh and energized.../3
True to form, the media proved unable to formulate follow-up questions to routine deflection from the determined Ms Sylvia Jones, fresh and energized.../3
....from a celebratory round of golf with Doug. The shirking MoH somehow found positives in the fact stakeholders were holding unreported, behind-the-scenes meetings about the emergency and that half of a $5K retention bonus for nurses was yet to come, while touting the ../4
Any hopes that the Covid disaster unfolding in the emergency rooms of provincially controlled hospitals might shame the premiers into action were demolished when the media decided it was all tightwad Justin Trudeau's fault and the premiers deserved praise for their prudent.../2
..money management skills;
Doug Ford earned special mention from a variety of libertarian media pundits for sharp budgeting that saw a $1.8B payment issued to the (likely indifferent) holders of Ontario debt. But the story of seriously ill citizens camped out on hard.../3
Doug Ford earned special mention from a variety of libertarian media pundits for sharp budgeting that saw a $1.8B payment issued to the (likely indifferent) holders of Ontario debt. But the story of seriously ill citizens camped out on hard.../3
...terrazzo floors in overwhelmed hospitals, waiting for their lucky OHIP number to be called was a beat the media wretches refused to cover;
The Code Blues at infirmaries were ironically accompanied by the arrival of the Ford Disinformation Convoy to Victoria, B.C. .../4
The Code Blues at infirmaries were ironically accompanied by the arrival of the Ford Disinformation Convoy to Victoria, B.C. .../4
Seeing a lot of tweets about Ford's suppression of the provincial vote June 2 and the media's complicity.
#CLUSTERFORD rewind:
"The Toronto press pack, wondering why the 2022 campaign went missing, failed to note that Huckster Ford's face had been on screens continuously.../2
#CLUSTERFORD rewind:
"The Toronto press pack, wondering why the 2022 campaign went missing, failed to note that Huckster Ford's face had been on screens continuously.../2
..for months, while no issue advertising was to be heard. Ford gagged teachers, HCWs, the disabled, LTC/Covid victims, small business, closing off a key platform available to special interests, and even had activist lawyer Caryma Sa'd aggressively handcuffed at a Trump-style../3
..re-election rally;
Ford's election law was starkly favourable to his PCs, hobbling labour and other third parties for a full year, including during the campaign, while personal allowable contribution limits were doubled to $3K;
Meanwhile, Ford burned through $9M in 35.../4
Ford's election law was starkly favourable to his PCs, hobbling labour and other third parties for a full year, including during the campaign, while personal allowable contribution limits were doubled to $3K;
Meanwhile, Ford burned through $9M in 35.../4
The media has buried the lede again, as the impact of Ford's Bill 254 and its ham-fisted interference in election advertising and 3rd party involvement has been on display since the campaign began five weeks ago: Ford's face has been on screens continuously, along with the.../2
...huckster patter, but no issue advertising is to be heard;
Teachers, HCWs, the disabled, LTC/Covid victims, small business, etc., have been shut down, as Ford blunts (and handcuffs) critics as an election tactic. Nevertheless, an obtuse press pack wonders why the campaign.../3
Teachers, HCWs, the disabled, LTC/Covid victims, small business, etc., have been shut down, as Ford blunts (and handcuffs) critics as an election tactic. Nevertheless, an obtuse press pack wonders why the campaign.../3
...went flat;
April 2021, Ford's election financing revamp, aka the Protecting Ontario Elections Act, was characterized as the "Squashing Ontario Democracy Act" by Unifor, the country's largest private sector union;
Ford's election law is starkly favourable to his PCs; .../4
April 2021, Ford's election financing revamp, aka the Protecting Ontario Elections Act, was characterized as the "Squashing Ontario Democracy Act" by Unifor, the country's largest private sector union;
Ford's election law is starkly favourable to his PCs; .../4
April 2021, Ford's Bill 254 election financing revamp, aka the Protecting Ontario Elections Act, is characterized as the "Squashing Ontario Democracy Act" by Unifor, the country's largest private sector union;
Ford's election law is starkly favourable to his PCs, hobbling../2
Ford's election law is starkly favourable to his PCs, hobbling../2
...labour and other 3rd parties during campaigns, but personal allowable contribution limits are doubled to $3,000;
Ford's amendments double the time spending limits are imposed on political advertising by 3rd parties, from 6 to 12 months leading to an election. During.../3
Ford's amendments double the time spending limits are imposed on political advertising by 3rd parties, from 6 to 12 months leading to an election. During.../3
.. that time, each interest group or individual's ad spend is now limited;
An ON Superior Court Justice found 4 sections of Bill 254 infringed s. 2. of the Charter based on freedom of expression;
In response to the Superior Court rebuke, as usual embracing audacity over.../4
An ON Superior Court Justice found 4 sections of Bill 254 infringed s. 2. of the Charter based on freedom of expression;
In response to the Superior Court rebuke, as usual embracing audacity over.../4
The media itself took control of the pro-Ford bullhorn, T-minus 9, when the Toronto Star's Ontario politics columnist, Martin Regg Cohn, worked up a fawning account of the New Doug Ford for the once-upon-a-time liberal standard bearer;
No doubt to the chagrin of Journalist.../2
No doubt to the chagrin of Journalist.../2
...Cohn, the paper's new bosses put the puff piece on the front page with a 4-column picture and a headline proclaiming Ford's "Evolution" -- even as Ford disdains Official Toronto, has brutalized the City at every opportunity and is likely an evolution denier, to boot; /3
Not to be outdone, Global's muckraking Colin D'Mello, exposing himself to ridicule for not getting out much, puts the finger on Del Duca for putting on the Ritz, eating on the job to the tune of $50K over 6 years (!) at the Keg restaurant chain ($47 filet with two sides).../4
Feb 8, 2022, Ford turns down City of Ottawa request for an emergency declaration over the trucker occupation, into its 11th day, as the negligent, likely complicit premier absconds from his duty of care to Ottawans, embracing instead the CPC strategy of ensnaring the PM in../2
...the uprising; the slow-playing Ford later acts on Feb 11 with little fanfare, hesitant to offend his shrill base of Covidiots;
As combined police forces arrest and remove the capital occupation following Trudeau's Feb 14, 2022 Emergencies Act passage, (police towed more.../3
As combined police forces arrest and remove the capital occupation following Trudeau's Feb 14, 2022 Emergencies Act passage, (police towed more.../3
...than 70 vehicles and arrested 191 people on 389 charges) Ford spins an alternate reality Feb 19: "I’ve worked on a plan for weeks and was hours away from ending this protest, but the federal government jumped ahead of my team."
Ford promised to send 1,500 OPP to help../4
Ford promised to send 1,500 OPP to help../4
Snowmobiling Ford goes incommunicado for 5 days while the domestic and US-funded Jethro convoy of anti-Trudeau, anti-mandate anarchists barrelled through his province beginning Jan 26, 2022, sideswiping Toronto before hightailing it to Ottawa, promptly turning 20 blocks of.../2
...the capital's downtown core and Parliament Hill into a dystopian truck-stop on Jan 29;
The Konvoy runs amok in Ottawa, bringing 24/7 diesel fumes, honking horns and images of children being used as shields against police actions. The QAnons arrogantly brandish a farcical.../3
The Konvoy runs amok in Ottawa, bringing 24/7 diesel fumes, honking horns and images of children being used as shields against police actions. The QAnons arrogantly brandish a farcical.../3
..."Memorandum of Understanding" challenging Canadian democracy, wave Nazi swastikas and US Confederate flags, (but lack a permit, plans or porta-potties);
The Ford-bolstered squatters indulge in violence and vandalism, urinating on war memorials, dancing on the tomb of the.../4
The Ford-bolstered squatters indulge in violence and vandalism, urinating on war memorials, dancing on the tomb of the.../4
The Toronto Star newsroom joins the growing ©ClusterFord of formerly reliable newspapers that have succumbed to the confounding allure of a Ford administration (and pressure from new, true blue owners, NordStar Capital). A May 9 poll projecting a one-seat majority victory ../2
...for DoFo was heralded as tracking to a majority win, three weeks ahead of the vote and before the 2 leaders' debates had even taken place. That two fewer seats would see Ford defeated on the floor of the legislature in Sept/22 was not conveyed to readers;
Northern .../3
Northern .../3
...Ontario journalism's pro-Doug Ford bias is on full display following Debate No. 1, as Village Media, publisher of 23 titles in the region and in the southwest, offered slanted news coverage of the May 10 North Bay wordfest: "Ford put on an impressive performance. He stuck ../4
Dec 2021, Ford furtively rams pre-holiday Bill 37, the Long-Term Care Homes Act, through the legislature, greasing the way for billions of public funds to be funnelled to some of Ontario’s 350-plus private-sector LTCs, including Sienna, Revera and Mike Harris's Chartwell;../2
To date, no fines have been issued by the province to any long-term-care home for pandemic failures;
More than half of the approximately 60,000 new and redeveloped beds in the government’s $6.4B 2022 health plan are set to go to private, for-profit companies — many of which.../3
More than half of the approximately 60,000 new and redeveloped beds in the government’s $6.4B 2022 health plan are set to go to private, for-profit companies — many of which.../3
...had far higher death rates than non-profit and city-run chains;
Non-profit nursing homes are set to receive just over 30% of the total beds. Municipal LTC chains, which reported by far the lowest death rates during the pandemic, will receive just 6%:
Report on Q2 2021.../4
Non-profit nursing homes are set to receive just over 30% of the total beds. Municipal LTC chains, which reported by far the lowest death rates during the pandemic, will receive just 6%:
Report on Q2 2021.../4
Bill 88, Ford’s omnibus, Orwellian-named Working for Workers Act introduced in October 2021, would return $1.5B in WSIB insurance premiums to 300,000 businesses adjudged "safely operated" as pandemic aid, even as the WSIB had an unfunded liability of $14.2B in 2011;
Ford.. /2
Ford.. /2
...rolls out election-themed ads promoting the rebates element of Bill 88 on Mar 7/22;
The gift/grift to Corporate Ontario in the Working for Workers Act follows a 30% reduction in WSIB premiums charged to business handed down in Jan 2020;
In a cynical extortion gambit.../3
The gift/grift to Corporate Ontario in the Working for Workers Act follows a 30% reduction in WSIB premiums charged to business handed down in Jan 2020;
In a cynical extortion gambit.../3
... "portable" health and wellness benefits are to be made available to retail, gig economy, hospitality and other workers, but only upon Ford's re-election,
The Bill 88 legislation would still leave standby workers unpaid and with few tools to digitally disconnect from.../4
The Bill 88 legislation would still leave standby workers unpaid and with few tools to digitally disconnect from.../4
