Ford is only protecting himself and his billionaire buddies

This is the worst wildland fire season in Ontario’s history. The province’s single largest ever wildland fire – named “Thunder Bay 036” – has burnt an area larger than Manitoulin Island and destroyed the communities of Namaygoosisagagun and Whitewater Lake First Nations: their people are among the 2,000 Indigenous people forced to evacuate their communities.

 

But the Ford government continues to run ads – costing at least $21 million of public money – under the banner “Protect Ontario”. Northern Ontario First Nations certainly do not feel protected: their leaders have called for an inquiry into the government’s inadequate firefighting, communications and rescue infrastructure in the north.

 

Ford cut the annual firefighting budget by $47 million, but has already invested billions in paving the way for further mining development in the so-called “Ring of Fire”. The Ford government refuses to compensate the people of Grassy Narrows for decades of mercury poisoning, while they push further mining, nuclear waste and pipeline destruction.

 

The ads also promote other policies: banning safe injection sites, increasing police and prison budgets, expanding nuclear energy, protecting Ontario’s borders and clearing unhoused people out of parks.

 

This stokes fear and division in an effort to obscure their agenda: privatizing healthcare, education and community services; letting developers dictate housing policy; dismantling environmental and workplace protections; and criminalizing poverty.

 

Ford’s “protection” isn’t for people and communities – it is for the profit margins of the rich and powerful. Indigenous struggles and striking OPSEU Community Service workers show how we can truly protect our communities and build the solidarity needed to win.

 

In truth the ads are a desperate attempt by Ford to control the narrative that is increasingly ringing hollow: recent scandals and an aborted jet purchase have contributed to low approval ratings for Ford not seen since before the pandemic. By mobilizing solidarity, we can finish him off.