The Doug Ford PCs Have Become Little More Than A Bloated Liberal Political Machine

People don’t use the term “political machine” much these days. Political machines are more of a concept associated with late 19th century to mid-20th-century American politics where certain political jurisdictions were heavily controlled by a conglomerate of influential political actors who could enrich themselves by controlling voting blocks. 

Although Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative Party does not have the sort of direct control over blocks of voters the way someone like Senator Roscoe Conkling in 1870s New York would have had, the PCs in their own way have come to exist only to control public office.

It was disturbing for Ford, who supposedly is a Conservative, to be bragging during the last Ontario leaders debate that he has many of the major labour unions on his side, seeing as Ford only got their endorsements by pledging further government subsidization of their industries and wages.   

The PCs are not offering any tax relief in the 2022 election and failed to deliver any of the relief they promised back in 2018. Instead, like the Liberals and NDP, the PCs are now willing to just buy votes with promises of expensive new government programs, infrastructure projects, and subsidies to industries rich with potential PC voters. 

The PCs are also offering media handouts like Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals. Ford granted the failing Toronto Star, an online gambling Licence worth $500 million which the profits from will go towards fueling their increasingly unreadable left-wing journalism. A deal like that appears to be little more than a way for Doug Ford to buy better coverage from an outlet that has been a strong opponent for his family for over a decade.

(Below is a great interview from Rebel News with New Blue Party leader Jim Karahalios about the $500 million Toronto Star gambling licence giveaway.)