Ford’s garrulous nod to French Quebecers and grievous snub to Franco-Ontarians gave the game away from the get-go. The cri de coeur from Franco-Ontarians was matched by an outcry in Quebec and an uproar in Ottawa. Not only has Ford antagonized a vital provincial constituency, he has alienated potential partners beyond Ontario’s borders. “I love the francophone Ontarians,” a chastened Ford declared Wednesday, striking a dramatically different tone from his unguarded comments to Radio-Canada last February. In the aftermath, Ford got so bogged down in narrow provincialism that he forgot the generous federalism that binds this country together.

Source: thestar November 28, 2018 21:56 UTC