Attack ad season begins as Ontario Liberals unleash on Ford candidates – Toronto Sun

An online ad released by the Ontario Liberals Friday likens Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives to the forces in the United States overturning abortion rights law.

“The U.S. Supreme Court is rolling back Roe v. Wade,” the ad says. “Are you worried this could happen in Ontario? Some Conservatives are already promising it will.”

A Liberal-created website targets two Ford candidates for socially conservative outlooks.

The website — fordconservatives.ca — shows video of PC Niagara West MPP Sam Oosterhoff speaking to a crowd at Queen’s Park.

“We have survived 50 years of abortion in Canada and we pledge to fight to make abortion unthinkable in our lifetime,” Oosteroff says.

The site also targets PC MPP Parm Gill, saying he has acknowledged he entered politics to end same sex marriage.

“These are Doug Ford’s Conservatives, and this is how they think,” the website says. “Let your friends, family and neighbours know.”

Ivana Yelich, a spokesperson for the Ford campaign, said the Premier is focused on his plan to rebuild Ontario’s economy, highways and infrastructures.

“The (Steven) Del Duca-Wynne Liberals are desperately trying to distract from firing three candidates in three days and their well-documented vetting failures,” Yelich said, referring to the Liberals dropping three candidates over previous comments.

Once viewed as an American trend, attack ads are now a regular feature of election campaigns in Ontario.

The Tories on NDP:

“Andrea Horwath and the NDP always find a reason to say no.”

In this PC-sponsored ad, Horwath is accused of fighting policies that would keep costs down for families and build new homes.

“They talk, delay and oppose measures that create jobs,” the spot says. “Andrea Horwath would be a disaster for Ontario.”

The NDP on Liberals:

The Ontario NDP has mainly targeted Ford in advertising while extolling the virtues of Leader Andrea Horwath.

However, in the pre-writ period last year, the Ontario NDP took to online advertising to send its message about Del Duca, the Liberal leader, calling him “Kathleen Wynne’s right hand man – making big cuts and bad choices.”

aartuso@postmedia.com