Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, recently appeared to endorse Olivia Chow for mayor of Toronto, praising her as someone doing an "incredible job." However, when this caused a stir among political partisans, his office backtracked, claiming no endorsement was intended. The article explores why Ford is willing to ally with political rivals like Chow despite strong partisan divides, suggesting that many voters appreciate cooperation between politicians from different parties.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
If you’re still puzzled by Doug Ford’s on-again off-again, endorsement non-endorsement of Olivia Chow for mayor, get used to it.
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you → puzzle → it
There’s more where that came from.
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that → ’ → where
Ford went off script this month by first telling reporters how terrific Chow can be:
“The mayor and I have a phenomenal relationship,” he said onstage as she listened, bemused, beside him.
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she → go → him
“We’re going to continue supporting the mayor, she’s doing an incredible job — so read between the lines.”
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she → go → lines
Premier Doug Ford took to the airwaves Friday in another bid to limit the political fallout following widespread media reports he gave a tacit
Premier Doug Ford took to the airwaves Friday in another bid to limit the political fallout following widespread media reports he gave a tacit
And when that made headlines, and lit up the telephone lines at Queen’s Park, well, the premier’s office came up with new press lines: Ford’s handlers mumbled that he meant no such thing and that, ahem, he wasn’t endorsing anybody, anyhow, anytime.
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he → take → anybody
To which one might retort and restate: Read between the lines.
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one → retort → lines
Ford clearly harbours an unexpected affinity and affection for his erstwhile adversaries — more than merely the mayor of Toronto.
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Ford → harbour → Toronto
The result is a lot of unhappy, upset and unforgiving political partisans who do a double take when their leaders bestow praise on campaign rivals.
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leaders → do → rivals
Chow’s camp, comprised of many fellow New Democrats and self-styled progressives, seemed to squirm over Ford’s gushing words.
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camp → comprise → words
They prefer to see the Tory premier as a nemesis, not an admirer working hand-in-glove with their fearless leader of the left.
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They → prefer → left
Perhaps that’s because partisan actors and election donors are overexposed to overheated rhetoric, which is crafted to stoke passions and suck in donations.
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which → ’ → donations
Fundraising email blasts routinely demonize and dehumanize opposing campaigns.
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blasts → demonize → campaigns
We pay too much attention to the sarcasm in attack ads and the snark on social media.
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We → pay → media
It brings out the worst in unhinged and unfiltered antagonists, which is then amplified by anger algorithms online.
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which → bring → algorithms
Yet just because hard core partisans are confused, or donors feel double-crossed, doesn’t mean Ford and Chow and the other politicians who make peace are on the wrong track.
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who → confuse → track
Dig a little deeper and it turns out many Canadians like seeing their leaders liking each other — or at least getting along
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leaders → dig → other
In politics as in life, many Canadians are perfectly capable of holding two seemingly opposing positions — cognitive dissonance is overrated.
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dissonance → hold → positions
History shows that many voters support politicians from opposing parties from one election to the next.
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voters → show → next
Ontarians are famous for sending Tories to Queen’s Park while dispatching Liberals to Parliament Hill.
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Ontarians → send → Hill
This province is one big Venn diagram, and Ford understands this ostensible contradiction better than many.
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Ford → understand → many
Chow isn’t the only politician from a different party whom he co-opts, co-operates and collaborates with.
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he → co → -
Consider how he teamed up with former prime minister Justin Trudeau; after first badmouthing him, the two cheerfully appeared together at public events.
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two → consider → events
Ford has also forged close relationships with federal cabinet ministers, from (former deputy prime minister) Chrystia Freeland to Melanie Joly and Dominic LeBlanc.
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Ford → forge → Joly
But his relationship with Trudeau’s successor, Mark Carney, has surpassed even those heights, with the two leaders hanging out at the premier’s Etobicoke home and Muskoka cottage.
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leaders → surpass → home
As he once explained to me, Ontario Tories and federal Liberals share similar voting coalitions.
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Tories → explain → coalitions
In point of fact, Ford’s own riding of Etobicoke Centre is held federally by a Liberal, John Zerucelli.
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riding → hold → Liberal
But it’s not just political calculus.
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it → ’ → ?
Chow went on a charm offensive when she took office, reassuring Ford that they could do business together.
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they → go → business
“I have a soft spot for the mayor, I do,” Ford gushed at their first formal news conference together two years ago.
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Ford → have → conference
Two other politicians who have campaigned hard against Ford have also become besties: Steven Del Duca, the former Ontario Liberal leader who tried to defeat him in the 2022 election, is now the Vaughan mayor who is frequently on the phone with Ford.
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who → campaign → Ford
He is also the recipient of shameless flattery from him at public events: Del Duca is “one of the best,” Ford said at a recent joint appearance, calling him a “champion” akin to a comrade-in-arms.
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Ford → say → arms
, Ford told the crowd he was “thrilled to be standing with her.”
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he → tell → her
Horwath, in turn, posted on social media, “Thank you, Premier, for the continued partnership and for the strong relationship.”
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Horwath → post → relationship
Her gratitude to Ford prompted a torrent of sniping on X accusing her of betrayal:
“You’re a SELLOUT to one of the most CORRUPT Premiers in Ontario history,” said one.
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one → prompt → history
“This grovelling for Ford is puke worthy,” said another.
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another → say → Ford
You have no spine.”
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You → have → spine
You get the idea.
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You → get → idea
Fidelity to hostility plays well on social media, but if the politicians keep making nice to each other they doubtless have the polling data to back it up.
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they → play → it
The Aporia
