The day after millions of Canadian basketball fans saw attack ads portraying Andrew Scheer as a puppet of Premier Doug Ford, the federal Conservative leader insists he is his “own” man.Federal Conservatives have told the Star they fear Ford’s declining popularity will hurt them in the Oct. 21 election, but in an exclusive interview, Scheer said he is “very optimistic about the chances of winning … a lot of seats back in Ontario.”“Look, the difference in this federal election is going to be between myself and Justin Trudeau,” the federal Tory leader said, insisting he is different from the Ontario premier.“I am my own person. I have my own style. I have my own approach. We’re going to be laying out our own policies,” he said.Read more:Canadian voters give low marks to federal party leaders, poll finds Poll says Ontario voters ‘less likely’ to vote for Scheer this fall thanks to FordFederal Conservatives’ worries about Doug Ford’s unpopularity intensifyTrudeau’s Liberals have been using Ford to vilify Scheer with cabinet ministers routinely attacking the federal Conservative leader as cast in the image of the polarizing premier.Engage Canada, a union-backed progressive coalition, aired U.S.-style attack ads linking the two Conservatives during Monday’s Toronto Raptors-Golden State Warriors NBA Finals game.“He’d follow Ontario Premier Doug Ford as he slashes health care and education. Scheer will never stand up to Ford,” says one 15-second spot.Asked why his opponents are trying to tie him to Ford, the mild-mannered Scheer said: “I’m not sure. You’ll have to ask them why they think that’s effective. I think it’s because they can’t run on Justin Trudeau’s record.”The federal Conservative leader noted there are perils to campaigning alongside an unpopular Ontario premier.“I’d be interested ...
|
