Doug Ford

Ford ran on "For the People" and I'm still waiting to feel that. Healthcare in Ontario is a disaster — my family doctor retired and I've been trying for two years to get another one. Housing is the worst it's ever been. The government keeps approving highways and developer projects instead of solving the things that matter. Who exactly is this government fighting for? Because it's not the people I know.

Doug Ford loves to talk about being for the people but Ontario families tell a different story. Healthcare is in crisis — my family waited 16 hours in an ER. Housing costs in Ontario are obscene. Meanwhile the government pushes through decisions that seem to benefit developers more than residents. The buck stops at the Premier's office. People are choosing between groceries and rent in Ontario and that should be unacceptable to any government.

Doug Ford has served as Premier of Ontario since 2018 and made history in 2025 by winning a third consecutive majority government — the first Ontario leader to achieve that since the 1950s. His electoral durability speaks to a genuine connection with a large portion of Ontario voters, and on several files his government has delivered. On the positive side, Ford's government reinstated the Northlander passenger train service (cancelled by the previous Liberal government), broke ground on the East Harbour Transit Hub, expanded GO Transit, and launched a $210 million road safety fund. In early 2026, his government announced billions in new funding for Ontario's financially struggling colleges and universities alongside OSAP reforms. He introduced the Building Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, and throughout the Canada–U.S. tariff dispute, Ford was vocal in standing up for Ontario workers and industries — earning a rare approval bump from across the political spectrum at the time. The concerns, however, are significant. Ontario's housing crisis has deepened on Ford's watch: internal government documents have confirmed the province will not reach its own target of 1.5 million new homes by 2031, while housing starts declined 13% and homelessness rose 8% — the opposite direction from the rest of Canada. His government slashed Toronto's shelter services funding by 60%, and social assistance rates remain frozen despite years of expert recommendations to raise them. Fiscal management has also drawn criticism: the 2025 deficit came in at $14.6 billion, and the 2026 projection nearly doubled. A $28.9 million government jet purchase was reversed after public backlash, and OPP investigations have been launched into Skills Development Fund recipients. Ford pushed sweeping strong mayor powers through despite "predominantly negative" public consultations, and new FOI restrictions have limited government transparency. His approval rating as of March 2026 sits at around 30%. Ford wins elections, but the gap between his promises and on-the-ground results — particularly on housing, homelessness, and fiscal discipline — is hard to ignore. Reviewed as an Ontario resident following seven years of Ford government.