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Or sign-in if you have an account.Ontario Premier Doug Ford in the main foyer at Queen's Park on June 10, 2026. Photo by Peter Power /Peter PowerWhat’s next? That’s the question Ontario Premier Doug Ford should be asking himself during the Ontario legislature’s 21-week “summer” recess.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorThis is a crucial moment in Ford’s premiership. On June 29, he marks his eighth year in office. That’s the point where governments often lose momentum and direction, becoming tired and complacent, more interested in looking back on their accomplishments than tackling new challenges.One could certainly argue that Ford’s government is well into that zone now. Other than Canada-U.S. trade issues and pet projects like expanding Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport, what does Ford intend to do with his remaining time in office?This newsletter from NP Comment tackles the topics you care about. (Subscriber-exclusive edition on Fridays)By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againNormally, after eight years a government would be compelled to answer that question for voters because its term would be up. Fortunately for him, Ford doesn’t have to worry about that, having seized the opportunity for a free-trade election last year.That doesn’t mean Ford is immune to public opinion. A new Angus Reid Institute poll showed Ford’s approval rating at a mere 21 per cent, lowest among all premiers and the poorest number he’s ever had. Ford rather petulantly called it a “fake” poll this week and suggested that the veteran pollster had polled the Liberal and NDP caucuses.Despite Ford’s own perceived poor performance, he has been lucky. The Liberals are leaderless and the NDP is led by the struggling Marit Stiles. It’s hard to say which is the larger problem.Regardless of his low approval rating, the premier has another three years in office without electoral peril. It’s a gift, but what will he make of it?Here are the steps Ford should take. First, spend more time talking to Ontarians, not Americans. Leave the Washington trips to Prime Minister Mark Carney.Rather than rely on what he hears from people who choose to call him on his cellphone, Ford and his team need to conduct a wide-ranging and well-organized search for ideas. Talk to business leaders, think tanks, non-profits, people in health care, and ordinary folks fighting to make a living in tough times. Deliberately seek out people who think he hasn’t been doing a good job. They won’t be hard to find.Ford needs to ask only one question: “What more do you think I can do to make Ontario better?”Ford should focus particularly on areas where his government has not done enough. Hospital funding and realistic support for the disabled come to mind.A July and August listening tour should lead to a fall cabinet shuffle, new ministers for refreshed priorities. A new look requires a different, smaller cabinet. Ford’s cabinet has 37 members, nearly half his caucus. It’s not because they are an all-star team. How many people could name even three of them?In making those changes, Ford should consider who in the group could plausibly constitute the next generation of PC leadership. Topping that list is Stephen Lecce, somewhat wasted as minister of energy and mines. His communications skills would be useful in health, a ministry where the government has made some gains, but explains itself poorly. Peter Bethlenfalvy has been finance minister for six years. He’s well qualified, but deficit after deficit has eroded his credibility. Surely someone else must understand money.None of this is to say Ford has done a terrible job, and certainly not as bad as people seem to think. His government has made real gains in primary care, long-term care, energy supply, post-secondary funding, infrastructure and skilled-trades training.The problem is the disconnect between Ford’s priorities and people’s pervasive worry about the ability to afford a normal life with a decent job and a house to live in.With inflation and economic uncertainty, people have cut back on spending and become more cautious about debt. While people focus on thrift, Ford acts like a spendthrift, a guy who can’t come close to balancing the provincial books and has seldom seen a pricey infrastructure project he doesn’t like, especially if it’s on the Toronto waterfront.The premier who came into office acting like a regular fella who knew how other regular people live has transformed into someone who thought it made sense to spend $28.9 million on an executive jet, which he has since returned. The purchase didn’t sit well with people struggling to make car payments.There’s nothing like winning three straight majorities to make a politician feel like a superstar, but Ford has lost his lustre for Ontario voters. New priorities and decisive action will get it back. A little humility wouldn’t hurt, either.National Postrandalldenley1@gmail.com Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. 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