Thread by @DavidHains

Day three of the campaign sees the NDP head to the northern debate in Parry Sound, and then onto Sudbury, where they won the seat in 2014 only to lose it in a controversial by-election.

The NDP are fairly strong in the north, where they hold five seats. Due to riding changes more northern seats are up for grabs this election, but the PCs have high hopes to make inroads in the region.

Colleague @jessiecatherine and I will cover the Parry Sound debate, so stay tuned.

I will also tweet the origins of Ontario place names and note oversized novelty tourist attractions as we stop in various places. Haters can mute until June 8.

When the northern debate begins at 11:30 a.m., @fonom_info will livestream it on Facebook at this link. facebook.com/federationofno…

Parry Sound was originally called Wausakasing, from the Ojibwe meaning "shining waters." It was re-named Parry Sound in honour of Arctic explorer William Edward Parry by Captain Henry Wolsey Bayfield, who surveyed the area around PS between 1822 and 1825.

Parry Sound was dry beginning in 1872, due to William Beatty's ("William the Younger") opposition to the evils of alcohol. It was enforced through the Beatty Covenant, which threatened forfeiture of land if violated. Prohibition was finally lifted in a local plebiscite in 1950.

Parry Sound grew by 9.9 per cent from 2006 to 2016. Not to be confused with nearby Parry Island (Depot Harbour), Canada's largest ghost town.

Notable Parry Sounders include hockey player and coach Terry Crisp, 23rd premier of Ontario Ernie Eves, and Don Cherry's favourite person, hockey legend Bobby Orr.

Ford Nation Live is on the scene.

This is what it looks like when Kathleen Wynne steps off the bus, in GIF form

And here's Ford's arrival

There is an old-fashioned bell at the northern debate, which is superior to the CityNews chime 🔔

In post-question free-for-all, Ford goes after Horwath, marking a recent shift in tactics.

Horwath strikes back, "Where's your plan?"

Ford has really played up the idea of Toronto environmental extremists, and has cited NDP candidate Ramsey Hart, (who is a food bank executive from Perth).

It is worth noting that Ford's criticism of Ramsey Hart, a mining industry watchdog, sounded a lot like "Randy Hart" on multiple occasions (but I'll have to check the tape).

Ford has said the NDP care more about Toronto elites. At the dissolution of the House, the NDP had five northern seats and one seat in Toronto.

"Mr. Ford is not being honest with people about what those cuts look like in northern Ontario" or other parts of Ontario, says Horwath.

Ford again says Horwath just cares about her friends in Toronto.

Horwath is the only one of the three party leaders who is not from Toronto.

Ford "I love the firefighters," he says, earning chuckles from the crowd.

Toronto firefighters did not always love him. They even fought over using a fire truck at Rob Ford's 2014 mayoral campaign launch (Doug managed the campaign). thestar.com/news/gta/2014/…

"Plans are made with a southern lens by Kathleen Wynne and the Liberals," says Horwath. She says there should be a committee that looks at northern impacts of provincial policies.

"I understand that things are different in northern Ontario," she adds.

"We saw the disaster once the NDP got in," Ford says, bringing up the Bob Rae government from 1990-95.

The leaders are debating the Northlander.

"Where were you when [Wynne] cancelled the Northlander," Ford asks of Horwath.

McGuinty was premier when it was cancelled in 2012. Horwath tried to strike a deal to save it.

The NDP have vowed to restore the Northlander in their latest platform, as they did in 2014.

(Ford also promises to reinstate the train.)

Again: Ford falsely claims to have saved Toronto $1B.

Top City officials declared the claim "misleading." bit.ly/2rfSqFf

Four different publications debunked it:

tgam.ca/2JM8whd

bit.ly/2HI0aeb

bit.ly/2w6JcAK

bit.ly/2rfSqFf

We're in Sudbury, where Horwath is visiting the campaign office of candidate Jamie West.

Nickle Belt incumbent France Gelinas is also here.

The NDP's Joe Cimino won this riding in 2014, but Liberal Glenn Thibeault picked it up in a by-election.

"I don't think Doug Ford is the answer" for the health care system, says Horwath to NDP partisans.

"Hell no!" shouts a man in the back.

Biggest applause for pharmacare and putting Hydro One back in government hands.