Doug Ford slams Bonnie Crombie for ‘poor leadership’ while Mississauga mayor

Ontario Premier Doug Ford took aim at Bonnie Crombie Tuesday morning, saying she showed “poor leadership” during her time as Mississauga’s mayor.

Crombie, who now leads the Ontario Liberal Party, said in response that Ford “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

The premier was speaking at a press conference alongside Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown regarding a housing announcement in that city.

Ford was asked about the challenges currently affecting the province’s goal of building 1.5 million homes by 2031.

The premier said high interest rates are part of the problem, but said housing is still being built.

He then took aim at Crombie.

“When a municipality and the mayor and the council leading the charge, if they want to get something done, they can get it done,” Ford said, while praising Brown.

“When there isn’t a will, it’s not going to happen….

“Under Mayor Bonnie Crombie, Mississauga actually shrunk. Just think of that. In a building boom, in a population boom, Mississauga shrunk under Bonnie Crombie. Taxes went higher than they’ve ever went, ever, in the history of Mississauga. It was poor leadership.”

Data from Statistics Canada shows that Mississauga’s population stood at 717,961 in 2021, down from 721,599 in 2016, but up from 713,443 in 2011. Statistics Canada conducts a census of population every five years.

Crombie was elected as the mayor of Mississauga in 2014 before stepping down earlier this year to lead the Ontario Liberals.

But Ford had kind words for Mississauga’s current mayor, Carolyn Parrish.

“That’s the difference between a mayor like former Mayor Bonnie Crombie, and the new great, great mayor that’s there right now that’s going to do an incredible job, and a great mayor like Patrick Brown,” Ford said.

“You can get it done if you want to get it done…. We need to continue building, get the red tape out of the way. If you want to build, you will build. Simple as that.”

“I want to thank Mayor Parrish, too, for moving the ball forward and doing a great job, by the way,” Ford later added.

In response to Ford’s criticism, Crombie said the premier “doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”

“Despite Doug Ford’s failed leadership at Queen’s Park, when I was mayor, we were building beautiful new neighbourhoods, expanding transit and keeping taxes low,” she said in a statement.

“The bottom line is his cuts to healthcare and flip-flops have made it harder for mayors and councillors across the province to deliver for their residents.”

Crombie said Ford “isn’t in it for real people” in Ontario.

“He spends all his time trying to cater to his rich insiders at our expense,” she said.