Premier-designate Doug Ford says he will take control of Ontario’s government from defeated Premier Kathleen Wynne in three weeks, following his resounding election victory for the Progressive Conservatives.“We intend to act fast,” Ford told reporters at the Toronto Congress Centre on Friday. He named a transition team that includes former federal and Ontario cabinet minister John Baird.“The people out there have given me a very clear mandate to govern,” said Ford, whose party holds 76 seats in the 124-seat House, while the NDP has 40, the Liberals seven and the Greens have one.“I figure the transition will take 21 days,” said the businessman and former Toronto city councillor, who must now pick the first Progressive Conservative cabinet in Ontario in 15 years.He did not say how soon Ontarians can expect movement on his campaign pledges, such as a 10-cent-a-litre cut in gasoline taxes, but vowed they will be fulfilled.“I always keep my promises,” said Ford, who added “we aren’t going to flip flop.”“First of all, we have to look at the books.”One of the first moves, however, will be scrapping the modernized sex education curriculum opposed by social conservatives, he noted.“We’re repealing it.”Ford announced his campaign chair Dean French, a business executive, will be his chief of staff and that veteran political consultant Chris Froggatt, who served in the Harper government, would chair the transition team as the Tories take power.“Now, the real work begins,” said Ford. He credited Wynne for being “gracious” in promising her team’s support for the handover of power.Also on Ford’s transition team are former PC president Rueben Devlin, a doctor who was CEO of Humber River Hospital for 17 years; Simone Daniels, who works at Ford’s firm, Deco Labels and Tags, and PC stalwart Mike Coates.Asked if the new government would con ...
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