Ford trying to beat the clock to survive

Premier's re-election depends on getting ahead of RCMP probe of Greenbelt scandal

- MARTIN REGG COHN

Premier Doug Ford's biggest fear isn't the opposition parties coming after him, it's the cops closing in, Martin Regg Cohn writes. His campaign team wants the election out of the way before an RCMP investigation leads to any formal charges in the $8.28-billion Greenbelt land swap.

Doug Ford has been underestimated by the media and misunderstood by his opponents in two elections, paving his way to two majority government victories.

Will history repeat itself yet again?

With Labour Day out of the way, the campaign now moves into high gear. Never mind the U.S. presidential race, Ontario’s election preparations are ramping up on the home front.

The premier is seeking a pretext for a premature spring vote, one year ahead of schedule. With an RCMP criminal probe looming over the Greenbelt imbroglio, his survival is more about beating the clock than defeating his opponents.

What is less well known is precisely how Ontario’s two untested opposition leaders — the NDP’s Marit Stiles and the Liberals’ Bonnie Crombie — are preparing for the anticipated showdown. How will these two rookie leaders respond?

To defeat your adversary you must know your enemy. And define yourself to your audience.

Later this month, both provincial parties are holding key strategy and policy meetings that will set the stage for the coming campaign. But what they first need to understand is that Ford’s governing Progressive Conservatives are a moving target, which means the Liberals and New Democrats need to fight the next war — not the last one.