“This was very regrettable and very unfortunate,” she said in English on Monday. “There was a problem with the French translation, and it came a little bit later.”

“We regret that this has happened and apologize profusely.”

READ MORE: Some Liberals say gaffes costing party, while others defend campaign team ‘punching above its weight’

All four parties with seats in the Ontario legislature were invited by the AFO to complete the questionnaire ahead of the upcoming provincial election. The survey focused on francophone affairs and making public services more accessible to people who speak French.

Crombie was in Ottawa-Vanier to support Liberal candidate Lucille Collard’s bid for re-election. Collard, who has represented the riding since 2020, previously served as chair for eastern Ontario’s French language school board.

Crombie and Collard spoke in front of a large banner that read ‘End Hallway Healthcare,’ but only in English. Crombie was again forced to apologize, when asked why the sign featured no French translation.

“Our apologies again,” said Crombie. “This is a banner that we’re using right across the province, so our apologies that it wasn’t translated.”

Collard, along with the Progressive Conservative (PC), NDP, and Green candidates in Ottawa-Vanier, are members of the Franco-Ontarian community.

Statistics from the provincial government suggest there are 1.5 million Ontario residents who speak French, including more than 620,000 Franco-Ontarians.

Last week, the Liberals unveiled their election platform, which included promises to “develop a Francophone Healthcare Strategy” and “strengthen French education across Ontario.”

The PCs released the party’s full platform on Monday, though it featured no references to the French language or the francophone community.

Public opinion data suggests PC Leader Doug Ford is likely to secure another majority government, though the Liberals and NDP appear to be in a close battle for second-place.

Election day is Feb. 27.

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The media availability, which was held at the new Porter Airlines hangar at the Ottawa International Airport, focused on U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks on Monday that tariffs against Canada will come into effect on Mar. 4.

“As long as Donald Trump is in the White House, Ontario will stare down the threat of economic risk and uncertainty,” Ford told reporters, standing behind a sign that read “Protect Ontario.”

“His tariffs are coming on time and on schedule.”

But questions from reporters didn’t focus on the tariffs, instead asking the premier about his promises to support Ottawa and how he can assure Ottawa voters that he has their best interests in mind.

READ MORE: Ontario Liberal Leader Crombie announces plan for tax cut plan during Ottawa visit

Notably, the Ontario PC campaign has promised to assist with funding with phase two of the LRT and upload phase three — which brings the rail system to Kanata and Barrhaven — to the province if Ford is re-elected.

“I think [OC Transpo] is in over their head, to be frank with you, and that’s fine, we’re going to go in there and give them reinforcements, we;re going to support them, we’re going to give them money, we’re going to take care of it,” he told reporters. “They’ve tried, that’s all I can say. But now we’re going to bring in the big guns and get this job done.”

Ford first announced this plan on Feb. 5 with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. By uploading the LRT, the province would take responsibility for all operations and costs of the LRT, including the ongoing lawsuits associated with the system, which Ford said will save taxpayers money and “improve local services as we treat Ottawa fairly.”

Sutcliffe has been calling on both the provincial and federal governments to support Ottawa’s transit system. The 2025 City of Ottawa Budget involves substantial investments in public transit but requires an increase in transit fares and includes a $36 million gap in funding that the municipality hoped would be filled by upper levels of government.

Metrolinks, the transportation agency that would manage the LRT through the province, has been the subject of controversy and made headlines earlier this month when a Toronto city councillor called for a safety review after a woman was critically injured by a dump truck near transit construction.

When asked to address concerns about the involvement of Metrolinx in Ottawa’s transit system, Ford said, “I’m not going to [bring up] phase one and all the disaster that’s happened here with the LRT.”

“Metrolinx has done a good job, they’re professionals, and they’re going to really add to the team here in Ottawa,” he said. “They should be doing cartwheels that they’re going to have support now.”

The premier was also put on the spot about the French language. Although the premier is not required to be bilingual, Ottawa’s francophone community has criticized candidates for not offering more media availabilities in French. On Monday, Ontario Liberal Leader Bonnie Crombie apologized  — in French — for not providing bilingual signage and banners at her media appearance in Ottawa-Vanier. She has previously promised that a Liberal provincial government would ensure Ontario francophones will be able to access services, including healthcare, in French.

When asked by Ottawa Compass if Ford is confident in speaking and addressing Ontarians in French, he responded, “comme ci, comme ça” before continuing in English.

But he also emphasized his government’s support of Ottawa, assuring voters that although there has not been an Ottawa MP in the Queen’s Park Cabinet since  Merrilee Fullerton, MPP for Kanata-Carleton and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, resigned in 2023, Ottawa has “never seen so much love” from a provincial government.

“Were doing a lot. I can’t remember ever Ottawa getting this much love from a government,” he said. “We’re going to be there to support them Ottawa voters.”

The post Ford says Ottawa ‘in over its head’ with LRT, stresses response to tariffs during campaign stop appeared first on CompassNews.

Crombie joined McCrimmon at TutorOcean, a global tutoring marketplace based in Kanata, during a day of public events in Ottawa, and McCrimmon said Crombie is a “big believer” in the growth that Kanata has seen in recent years.

“When I toured [Crombie] around Kanata for the first time, she said, ‘How did you guys make all this happen? This is what we need for the rest of Ontario’,” McCrimmon told Ottawa Compass. “She’s a big believer in what we’ve managed.”

Kanata-Carleton is one of the few suburban ridings in Ottawa that is held by the Liberals. McCrimmon was elected in 2023 in a by-election following a 31-year military career and two consecutive terms as the Member of Parliament for Kanata-Carleton in the House of Commons. She also made an unsuccessful bid for the Liberal leadership in 2013.

She was elected before Crombie became the face of the party, but she said she’s confident her voters want Crombie as their premier.

“The message that I’m getting at the doors is they don’t trust Doug Ford to do this,” she said, citing Premier Doug Ford’s handling of economic threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. 

“[Ford] just made us look weak and scared, and not unified — and that’s what we need to be to take on Trump: unified.”

McCrimmon said she’s also leaning on her reputation in the riding and is confident about her re-election.

“Who calls an election in the middle of February, right?… But we said, ‘to heck with it’, we’re still going to go out and knock on doors, so we’re going to put up signs, and we’re going to do everything in our power to make sure that people know that we’re in it for them,” she said. “I think people have known me for a long time, so they know what they’re getting right.”

Crombie’s Kanata visit followed a stop in the east end where she announced plans for income tax cuts and health care investments. She also reiterated promises to improve transit in Ottawa, including uploading the LRT to the province, extending light rail to Kanata and Barrhaven, and creating a bus lane and a high occupancy lane to Rockland.

“It’s a step in the right direction to reducing congestion because God knows I personally have spent half my life on that road,” said Trevor Stewart, the Liberal candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell. “We absolutely need to reduce that congestion, and we’ve made that commitment to do just that.”

Crombie added that she would consider uploading and expanding other roadways that are particularly congested.

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Crombie started the day at G.A.B.’s Restaurant and Bar in Rockland, where she joined local representatives and the Liberal candidate for Glengarry-Prescott-Russell, Trevor Stewart, to announce her plan to give Ontarians a tax break if the Liberals form the next provincial government.

The “More For You” tax cut will cut the income tax rate for middle-class families by 22 per cent on taxable income between $51,446-$75,000, reducing the rate from 9.15 per cent to 7.15 per cent. It will also eliminate the HST on home heating and hydro bills and cut the small business tax rate in half.

“Now look, I know everybody was happy to get their taxpayers’ money…that $200 rebate check, and you were able to top up your groceries or pay your rent with a little more ease,” she said. “But we’re going to put $1,150 back in your pocket every year, and you can count on that. So that is my pledge to you.”

She also took the opportunity to discuss her plans for healthcare, particularly hiring more practitioners, including those who speak French.

“Especially here in small towns in Francophone Ontario, people want to get service in their language — in French — and it is so important that we train more French-speaking doctors and nurses and PSWs,” she said.

Crombie emphasized her love for the region and highlighted Premier Doug Ford’s absence; he has been opting out of media scrums and availabilities in several days. He also hasn’t made an appearance in the city since Feb. 5, when he joined Mayor Mark Sutcliffe for a transit announcement.

“I lived here for a time. My son lives here. My in-laws live in Orléans. I love coming to Ottawa, I am committed to the people of Ottawa, and I’m going to respect you, not neglect you,” Crombie said. “I will be present. And I think you’ve seen that. We’re going to turn more ridings into Liberal ridings, because our message is resonating with people.”

Ottawa’s troubled transit system has been a priority during Crombie’s campaign as she works to hold Ottawa’s attention — and votes. She and the premier have both promised to upload Ottawa’s LRT to the province. Crombie has also pledged to extend light rail to Kanata and Barrhaven, upload Highway 174 to the province and build a dedicated bus lane to Rockland.

When asked by QPBriefing why she would upload a system that has been rife with controversy and barriers, including legal disputes, Crombie said that Ottawa “did not get as good a deal as Toronto did” and accused the premier of favouring Toronto.

She added that as a former mayor, she learned that municipalities “can’t sustain the operating funding” of their public transit systems.

“I understand that firsthand, and how all the cities were crippled with the large deficits coming out of COVID because of the costs of running their public transit systems,” Crombie explained. “I understand well, and we have put a lot more time and attention to the planning of the LRT. I would want it not only uploaded, but also expanded.”

Earlier this week, PCs uncovered a social media post from the Ottawa Centre Liberal candidate, Thomas Simpson. The tweet was made when Simpson was 19 and seemingly made light of consent and rape culture.

Responding to reporters, Crombie said Simpson “understands that that is not appropriate and not tolerated.”

“He has completely apologized and withdrawn his statements, and he’s made those apologies. But you know, they want to sling mud? If Doug Ford has something to say to me, he should have the balls to say it to my face,” she said. “That’s what I’m saying to him right now. You got something to complain about? Come to me. Show your face.”

Simpson is running in Ottawa Centre, which is held by the NDP. The riding has long switched between the Liberals and the NDP, but Crombie did not hold any public events there during this visit.

Jonathan Malloy, a political science professor at Carleton University, told QPBriefing that the Liberals seem to be focusing resources on turning Conservative ridings red rather than targeting the NDP seats.

With the latest poll from Abacus Data placing Crombie and the Liberals in a strong second place behind the PCs, Crombie is encouraging NDP, Green and undecided voters to rally behind the Liberals.

“I have a message for NDP voters. If you want to change the government, because the only way we can change our health care system, change our approach to the economy and bring back some affordability is to change the government, vote Ontario Liberals,” she said. “We’ve got a plan. I’m a leader that has a lot of experience. People have trust and confidence in me. We have the wind in our sails. We have the momentum.”

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