Even in the heart of the “Ford Nation”, Doug Ford is not unanimous

Teresa hesitates in front of the counter, then points to the beef liver, which is on sale.

A loyal customer of Potenza for decades, the septuagenarian, who does not tell us her last name, has seen the region turn from red to blue more than once.

I have nothing to reproach him forshe says, when asked what she thinks of Doug Ford, who won more than 50% of the vote in Etobicoke North in the last election.

Before 2018, the constituency was red for 15 years and was held by former prime minister Kathleen Wynne’s parliamentary assistant, Shafiq Qaadri.

One of the butchers shows a certificate signed by Doug Ford, marking 50 years of the business. Mr. Ford put it on the wall himself, he points out proudly. He visited the butcher shop more than once.

” Doug Ford works hard to put money back in our pockets and stimulate the economy. We’ve already had a refund for our registration sticker fees. »

His cousin Nicholas, also a butcher, adds: Doug Ford has really done his best during the pandemic. He understands the business world, he works hard.

Doug Ford is once again a big favorite in Etobicoke North, but not all voters approve of his record.

Collins Tambe gives us a hasty interview outside his restaurant, African Village.

During the pandemic, the young entrepreneur of Cameroonian origin had to lay off the majority of his employees and limit the amounts he could send to his family, in the country.

The financial assistance promised by the Ontario government was slow in coming and did not cover only a fraction of his expenses. What they gave us, frankly, is nothing compared to what we earned before.

He doesn’t think he’ll vote unless one of the parties comes up with massive new financial aid for traders. Anyway, he doesn’t have much time to think about it.

Nothing changes. With Doug Ford, with the one who was there before, nothing has changed.

A Franco-Ontarian against Doug Ford

Julie Lutete is well known in the West Toronto immigrant community. The founder of the Auberge francophone organization says she has helped hundreds of families settle in the region over the years.

Mr. Ford, she says, ignores the cultural communities in his own constituency that are struggling to make ends meet. This is why she is running under the Liberal banner in Etobicoke North, even if the challenge is daunting.

The rents are too expensive, the houses have become too expensive. People tell us they can’t even afford the deposit to buy a houseshe says.

His strategy against Mr. Ford? Going to meet people and hear the grievances of small traders who suffered during the pandemic, to bring them back to the Liberals.

Ms. Lutete, who is also president of the Coalition des Noirs francophones de l’Ontario, counts on the support of members of the organization as volunteers.

We meet some of them in his campaign office.

She is a strong lady, who has done a lot for the communitylaunches one of them.

Among the greens, it is also a francophone who is running in the riding: Gabriel Blanc, a student in history and environmental studies at Brown University.

NDP candidate Aisha Jahangir is a mental health nurse.