‘I’m not going to roll back’: Doug Ford claims COVID-19 has changed his partisan outlook

The pandemic is forcing leaders of all political stripes to work together to tackle the daunting challenges facing Ontario, Canada and the rest of the world, says Premier .

In a wide-ranging 45-minute discussion Tuesday at the Ryerson Democracy Forum , Ford acknowledged the outbreak has changed his outlook on politics.

“This is the way I’m going to be. I’m going to be this way moving forward. I’m not going to roll back,” the premier said, pointing to his close working relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as well as other premiers and municipal leaders.

“We’re like a tag team. I like this type of governing. I like the collaboration, working together, and, again, putting politics aside,” he said via Zoom to some 500 students and to thousands more watching on thestar.com.

In contrast to his previous reputation as a my-way-or-the-highway Toronto city councillor — when his late brother, Rob Ford, was mayor from 2010 to 2014 — the premier emphasized he now seeks the counsel of many.

“I can tell you, Martin, I never make a decision by myself,” said Ford.

“I bounce it off (others). I’m a consensus-builder. I’m going to bounce it off 50 people before we make a decision — (in) all different areas and of all different political stripes to make sure we make the best possible decision that we feel we can make. Especially with this pandemic.”

That decentralized approach, he added, is why Queen’s Park has not always dictated coronavirus orders to the various regions of the province.

“I just believe in letting each area make their decision. That’s the way we’ve kind of governed on this pandemic with collaboration from everyone as long as it makes sense,” said Ford.

“So far, everything seems to be going fairly well.”

In a comment that may surprise his political rivals, Ford insisted he’s “never been big” on partisanship.

“Don’t get me wrong, Martin, I’ve always said I’m very proud to be the leader of the PC Party, but our family has never been elected by PC members 100 per cent. We get elected by traditional NDP voters or traditional members of the Liberal party,” he said.

Ford said he was happy to meet with Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca, Green Leader Mike Schreiner, and NDP deputy leader John Vanthof, who pinch hit for Leader Andrea Horwath, in his office last week to discuss the COVID-19 response.

“I want to continue on speaking with them, collaborating with them, coming up with ideas. I understand what they have to do. They’re in opposition, they have to go after me. That’s politics,” he said.

“Steven Del Duca has reached out to me with some ideas and it doesn’t hurt. I think it’s good if we can collaborate and to hold me accountable.”

Cohn asked him about a respectful exchange he had with his Liberal predecessor, Kathleen Wynne, in the legislature last week that made headlines for its civility.

“The other day when she asked me a question, I couldn’t get upset with Kathleen,” said Ford

“She’s the only person in that whole chamber that’s walked a mile in my shoes. Fortunately, it wasn’t through a pandemic,” he said.

“Even during the campaign, Kathleen Wynne was never mean. She was never rude. She’s a very, very nice person.”

Ford emphasized that Wynne is one of a handful of people in Ontario who understands “the pressures that the premier faces and the decisions that come across the desk every single day — tough, tough decisions.”

The premier was far less charitable about U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened earlier this year to withhold critical pandemic supplies, like respirator masks from Canada.

“I still can’t get over it. Yes, he’s not on my Christmas card list. I’m ticked off at him,” he said, pointing out how Canadians rallied to help Americans after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

When a Ryerson student likened Ford to Trump, the premier chortled, “Boy, that was a real slap calling me Donald Trump. I’m anything but Donald Trump.”

The premier added he was taken aback by Trump’s “disgusting” attack in last week’s raucous presidential debate on Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, who has battled drug addiction.

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: