Ontario Premier Doug Ford will be able to bring a binder of notes to the only provincial leaders’ debate of the election campaign on Monday, contrary to the wishes of the opposition parties. The decision to bring a notebook, while unusual, will not necessarily disadvantage the Tory leader, experts say.
The Torontostar was the first to reveal this morning that the media consortium responsible for Monday’s debate had told the various campaigns that it hoped the leaders would debate without prepared notes, a report confirmed by the consortium. This was also the wish of the three opposition parties. But Doug Ford will still have the right to bring his school bag, according to the Star.
One of the consortium’s representatives — Mackay Taggart, news director for the Global network in Ontario — did not confirm to the To have to that Doug Ford was planning to bring a notebook, but according to Erin Morrison, an NDP spokeswoman, the Conservatives had lobbied the consortium privately to have the notes allowed. The Progressive Conservative Party did not respond to a request for comment.
Next Monday, Doug Ford will take part in his first provincial debate as premier. A debate regarding Northern Ontario issues took place earlier this week. In the latter, the Prime Minister often relied on his notes, even during his opening speech. The Progressive Conservative leader, who often uses a teleprompter during his announcements, did not respond to questions from the media after the debate.
First defensive debate
Doug Ford will be on the defensive Monday, unlike the 2018 provincial leaders’ debate, when he went on the attack against Premier Kathleen Wynne. “Doug Ford is not comfortable being on the defensive,” said David McLaughlin, who served as Premier Dalton McGuinty’s speechwriter, Kathleen Wynne’s predecessor. The notebook might be a “lifeline,” he says.
Leaders Steven Del Duca (Liberal), Andrea Horwath (NDP) and Mike Schreiner (Green) will attack the Ford government’s record during Monday night’s debate. “Doug Ford’s political advisers know this and they will make sure the Prime Minister is fully prepared to respond to the various questions and attacks,” said Michael Taube, a former Stephen Harper speechwriter.
The two former speechwriters, however, believe that the use of a notebook will not necessarily disadvantage the Prime Minister. Some voters, says David McLaughlin, might even have empathy for Doug Ford. “A leader who comments on the subject could be criticized for his lack of preparation afterwards if he makes a mistake”, says Michael Taube
Different expectations?
Diction expectations for Doug Ford are not the same as for other leaders, suggests David McLaughlin, the former Ontario Liberal Party speechwriter. “Doug Ford does not try to impress voters with the way he speaks,” says David McLaughlin. “He is seen as someone who simply sums things up,” he says. Doug Ford would be a “man of action”.
According to the former speechwriter, the Progressive Conservative Party simply wants to get through the debate and return to the image of the Prime Minister who acts directly with people, as he did this winter to help people caught up in the snow. In January, when 60 centimeters of snow fell on Toronto, the Prime Minister drove to his community of Etobicoke to help motorists.
“Whether one leader has more ratings than another won’t matter much in the end — it’s what the leaders say that will matter to voters,” said Michael Taube. Voters watching the debate “will want to hear the leaders’ policy proposals and solutions,” he said.
This story is supported by the Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada.