The federal Conservatives have mounting concerns about the impact Premier Doug Ford will have on their electoral fortunes in Ontario this fall, party sources tell the Star. “Doug Ford is the No. 1 issue at the doors (for candidates) here,” said one senior Conservative official, speaking confidentially in order to discuss internal deliberations. “Let’s just say there are really strong feelings,” added the frustrated federal Tory insider, noting the premier is proving to be a lightning rod with many Ontarians. Another national party official expressed exasperation at the fact that some voters appear unaware that Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is not part of Ford’s administration and has nothing to do with its controversial moves, which polls suggest are unpopular. “It’s a different level of government and we have different priorities,” said the second Tory. Read more:Chantal Hébert: Doug Ford’s unpopularity is Andrew Scheer’s problemCanadians split between Trudeau and Scheer on economic acumenA Corbett Communications poll for the Star found 54 per cent of Ontarians are “less likely” to vote for Scheer’s candidates on Oct. 21 because of Ford’s policies. At the same time, 31 per cent said the premier’s moves would not have an effect on their ballot this fall while 15 per cent didn’t know.More ominously for Scheer, 21 per cent of federal Conservative voters in the province said Ford is a negative factor in their ballot choice.Using Maru/Blue’s Maru Voice Canada online panel, Corbett Communications surveyed 1,555 Ontario voters on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was an opt-in sample, but for comparison purposes a randomly selected sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.On Thursday, Ford’s Progressive Conservative government announced the legislature was adjourning until Oct. 28, a week af ...
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