Niagara PC candidates on board with Ford

Niagara’s PC candidates for the upcoming election are standing behind their new leader, Doug Ford, even if he wasn’t the first choice for all.

Incumbent Niagara West– Glanbrook MPP Sam Oosterhoff had publicly backed Christine Elliott in the race, but gave an enthusiastic congratulations to Ford on Twitter Saturday night, adding, “On to victory on June 7th.”

Elliott had refused to concede, raising questions of race irregularities, prompting the party to issue a statement Sunday that the results were definitive.

An emailed statement from Oosterhoff Sunday said he respects the democratic process.

“I believe that Doug Ford has been elected as the leader of the Ontario PC party,” he said. “I look forward to working with him and the PC team heading into the upcoming election.”

Niagara Falls riding candidate Chuck McShane also supported Elliott, but said Sunday by phone it’s a democracy and Ford won that democracy.

“All I can do is support Doug. He’s very knowledgeable. He’s not your typical politician, just like myself, and I know that together we can move this province forward,” he said.

McShane said Niagara needs to be put back on the map.

“It seems for many years that because of all the new towers that have been built in Toronto, that Queen’s Park can’t see Niagara,” he said.

“We need to be there and we need to have a strong voice and we need to be on the side of the governing body. Once the Conservatives get a majority, we will be.”

Wainfleet Mayor April Jeffs, who’s running as the candidate in Niagara Centre, said she was supportive of all the candidates in this process because they are all Conservatives and share a common vision.

“The most important thing is not the small variations in how we accomplish the vision, it’s about making sure that we go into the next election strong and united behind our leader,” she said by email.

Jeffs said she’s excited to work with a leader who will strive to move Ontario forward.

“He has wide appeal. Whether you’re a single mom, a working family or unemployed, Doug is the kind of man who will fight for you, and that’s what Niagara Centre needs,” she said.

Ford made a campaign stop at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 4 in Welland on Feb. 13. Jeffs said Ford showed his commitment to the riding by making it one of his first stops.

“It was great to see the people respond to Doug so passionately as he does with them. Doug has an energizing effect and the feeling in the room was very positive.

“I have total confidence that Doug Ford can, and will, win the 2018 election.”

That election is coming up in less than three months.

The quick leadership race has been called chaotic and began when former leader Patrick Brown stepped down in January amidst sexual misconduct allegations. A court challenge to extend the contest Friday, and Saturday’s lengthy delay of results and allegations of irregularities, didn’t help.

Jeffs said election processes, whether leadership contests or general elections, are highly emotionally charged. She said what’s important now is that the party unite behind Ford and sets it sights on winning the election.

McShane said he didn’t think voters would hold it against the party.

“This was a huge undertaking to complete within the timelines we had to complete them. They worked extremely hard to get to where we’re at,” he said, adding despite everything there was a record voting turnout in Ontario PC party history.

The party said 64,053 members voted, beating a previous high of 44,188 in 2002.

St. Catharines riding has not yet announced a candidate.