Liberals allege, Doug Ford dodges

Two weeks to go until election day but the focus today is on two years ago when Liberals allege Doug Ford was trying to sell "bogus" PC memberships inside an EtobicokeTim Hortons.

And as the Liberals likely hoped, it's dominating discussion on the campaign trail Thursday.

Here's where we are on day 16.

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The moment

Doug Ford answers questions about membership allegations

6 years ago

Duration 0:15

Doug Ford says this old issue "went through the appeals process and was totally dismissed'

He was asked, but didn't really respond.

This morning, the Liberals released an audio tape recorded in 2016 in which PC Leader Doug Ford appears to implore customers at an Etobicoke Tim Horton's to fill out party memberships without paying the $10 fee or completing the necessary paperwork, both violations of party rules.

Ford was working to sign up new members to boost the candidacy of Kinga Surma, who was seeking the PC nomination in Etobicoke Centre.

Less than two hours after the Liberals released the tape, Ford was asked about it at a scheduled campaign stop at a Tillsonburg metal fabrication plant.

Liberals release audio recording of Doug Ford allegedly trying to sell bogus PC memberships

6 years ago

Duration 1:18

Doug Ford can be heard attempting to sign up new members with Etobicoke Centre PC candidate Kinga Surma, Liberals allege

Asked if he would fire Surma, now the candidate in the suburban Toronto riding, Ford accused the Liberals of "trying to change the channel" with two weeks to go until voting day. Surma's nomination was appealedbut was upheld by the party, he added.

Ford was asked if he ever paid for anyone else's memberships, a violation of party rules. He again accused the Liberals of trying to divert attention from their own record. Asked why he's heard assuring people on the tape they don't have to pay, Ford again evaded the question.

He also didn't directly answer a final question about the nature of his relationship with Surma, and why he allegedly broke party rules to help her campaign.

Riding to watch

Kitchener Centre, population 105,260, profile by Kate Bueckert

Liberal incumbent Daiene Vernile who served as minister of tourism, culture and sport prior to the writ being issued has some stiff competition in this riding, which has been Liberal since 2003.

Along with Vernile, the candidates for the other main parties are all women: Mary Henein Thorn for the Progressive Conservatives, Laura Mae Lindo of the NDP and Stacey Danckert for the Greens.

• Kitchener Centre candidates talk transit, opioid crisis and social housing

Lindo has been visible in the community for her work at Wilfrid Laurier University's diversity and equity office. Some will know Thorn because she used to work for former PC MPP Michael Harris as well as former federal human resource minister Diane Finley while Danckert is known for her work with the Waterloo Region Environment Network.

Trend

Search traffic for the NDPhas significantly spiked in the past month as the party surges in public opinion polls.On Google, the New Democrats are outpacing their Liberal and PC counterparts, particularly in the past few days.

Noted

It's 14 days until the election and the PCs are still without a platform. There's been a smattering of PC announcements but nofully costed platform yet.

It's alsouncertain how much the PCs will adopt from the People's Guarantee, former PC Leader Patrick Brown's platform, released six months before the election.

Leader Doug Ford said a fully costed platform will be out before the election, which is now just two weeks away. The PC team is staying quiet on when though. LongtimePC politician Lisa Macleod told reporters Wednesday the platform would be coming "in a couple of weeks."

It's worth noting the Liberals haven't released a platform per se either, with their budget functioning as one instead.

Where the leaders are

• Ford:Visit to metal fabricator in Tillsonburg (11 a.m.), meet and greet in Brantford(1 p.m.), rally at Lincoln Alexander Centrein Hamilton (6 p.m.)
• Horwath:Visit to Centre for Social Innovation in Toronto (9:15 a.m.), visit to retirement homein Whitby (2:15 p.m.)
• Schreiner:Climate change announcement in Toronto (1:30 p.m.)
• Wynne:Announcement at Wattpad in Toronto (11:50 a.m.), bakery visit in Toronto (3 p.m.), rally at Brighton Convention Centre in Toronto (6:15 p.m.)

Track all the places the leaders have gone so far.

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