Doug Ford hails Andrea Horwath as ‘the great mayor of Hamilton’

Until the provincial election last June 2, then-NDP leader Andrea Horwath was a major thorn in the side of Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives. Since becoming the mayor of Hamilton in the Oct. 24 civic election, Horwath is working closely with Ford.

Thestar.com
Jan. 13, 2023
Robert Benzie

What a difference seven months and two elections can make.

Until the provincial election last June 2, then-NDP leader Andrea Horwath was a major thorn in the side of Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives.

Since becoming the mayor of Hamilton in the Oct. 24 civic election, Horwath is working closely with Ford.

That was evident Thursday at a joint announcement in Hamilton where the province handed over $1.5 million to complement a $15-million manufacturing investment from Bimbo Canada, the nation’s largest commercial bakery.

“I ... want to welcome Mayor Horwath who I’m thrilled to be standing with instead of standing across the aisle from me,” the premier said at the factory.

“It’s great to be here in the Hammer. I love the people here,” said Ford, praising Horwath as “the great mayor of Hamilton.”

The former leader of the opposition, who resigned after 13 years as New Democratic chief on June 2, expressed delight at the visit from Ford and several cabinet colleagues.

“I’m thrilled to see you all and I was saying on our way in, I like talking to you this way,” Horwath told the premier.

“It’s quite different but productive for the city of Hamilton and I’m very pleased about that,” she said.

“Thank you so much for the investment, premier. Thank you for being here, ministers. I really appreciate seeing all of you and I look forward to us continuing to work together.”

Privately, Ford’s advisers confide that they feel they can work well with both Horwath and newly elected Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, who resigned as Liberal leader on June 2.

That’s because, as former MPPs, both mayors understand the challenges faced by the province as it strives to build 1.5 million new homes over the next decade to tackle the housing crisis.

“We’re going to see over 300,000 people in the next year or two showing up to the province (and they) are going to show up in the Greater Toronto Area,” said Ford.

“So we need to continue building homes,” he said.

“We want to work collaboratively with all cities, including Hamilton. I’m very confident the mayor and I are going have a great relationship -- no matter if it comes to infrastructure or building homes or attracting great businesses like Bimbo. I just look forward to a collaborative relationship with Mayor Horwath and the other mayors.”