Ontario election: Party leaders clash over affordability, healthcare during debate | FULL

The leaders of Ontario’s four major parties faced off on Monday in the first and only official debate ahead of the June 2 provincial election, with the topics of affordability, health care and the environment bringing out some fiery moments.

One of the most heated clashes was between the leaders of the Liberals, NDP and Greens criticizing PC Leader Doug Ford over his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the various reopenings and actions taken on health care both before and during the crisis.

Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner also confronted Ford over health care, asking if he had “talked to a nurse lately,” before going on to say they felt overworked and disrespected.

Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca and Ford also clashed at the beginning of open debate over affordability, with the former saying the latter was fighting the 2018 election over again. But Ford went on the offensive, calling out Del Duca’s record in the previous Liberal government and saying the PCs were the only party that would cut taxes.

Debate on the environment also covered several topics, including Ford touting job creation in the green economy, while NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said Ford electric vehicle chargers were removed from GO Transit stations when the PC leader took office.

While a focus was on Ford during the debate, due to his lead in the polls, Del Duca and Horwath also tried to attack each other in an effort to peel away voters from the other party in hopes to either form government or take the coveted spot of Official Opposition, which was held by the NDP prior to the election.

The provincial election takes place June 2, with advanced polls opening on May 19.

For more info, please go to
Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE:
Like Global News on Facebook HERE:
Follow Global News on Twitter HERE:
Follow Global News on Instagram HERE:
#GlobalNews

source