Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending his former campaign manager’s criticisms of Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre, telling reporters “sometimes the truth hurts.”
Ford’s former campaign manager Kory Teneycke has been an outspoken critic of the federal Conservative campaign, suggesting it was headed for disaster and urgently needs to pivot its strategy.
Asked Monday about Teneycke’s comments, Ford suggested Poilievre’s campaign might be wise to listen to Teneycke’s advice.
“I’ve said right from day one, he’s tough as nails, but he’s the best campaign manager in the country. And to be very frank, if Kory was running that campaign, I don’t think Mr. Poilievre would be in the position he’s in right now,” Ford said.
“There’s still a lot of time left. We still have debates. At the end of the day, the people will decide which way they want this country to move forward. But sometimes the truth hurts.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, speaking from Toronto on Monday, says Pierre Poilievre ‘would not be in the position he’s in right now’ if outspoken strategist Kory Teneycke were running the federal Conservative leader’s campaign. But Ford added there is ‘still a lot of time left.’
Poilievre’s chief strategist is Jenni Byrne, who Teneycke worked with during Stephen Harper’s 2015 campaign.
The latest update from CBC’s Poll Tracker suggests the Liberals are now most likely to form government, showing Mark Carney’s Liberals have a seven-point lead over the Poilievre’s Conservatives nationally.
CBC News has reached out to the federal Conservative Party for comment on Ford’s remarks.
When asked about his declining poll numbers, Poilievre has previously said Canadians will make their decision on voting day.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is dismissing more criticism from former Stephen Harper strategist Kory Teneycke, who accuses Poilievre’s team of ‘campaign malpractice.’ Despite drawing big crowds, Poilievre is trailing Liberal Leader Mark Carney in the polls.
