Doug Ford warns Tory MPPs to stay out of federal Conservative leadership race

Stay out of it.

That's the warning from Premier Doug Ford to Progressive Conservative MPPs who may want to help in the federal Conservative leadership race.

With an Ontario election 11 weeks away and the province still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Ford said Tuesday that he doesn't want anyone at Queen's Park working on leadership campaigns.

Asked if he would be supporting any of the candidates, the premier shook his head. The answer is no," he said. I'll be supporting the people of Ontario."

I have my hands full moving forward," added Ford in Brampton, where one Conservative leadership hopeful, Patrick Brown, is the mayor.

And as for our MPPs, I believe they will have their hands full, so, no, they won't be supporting anyone."

Ford's edict is significant because he is the most powerful Conservative politician in Canada and he controls a large electoral machine.

But the Tory premier has worked closely on pandemic response with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland for the past two years.

They are currently negotiating a deal on $10-a-day child care that sources say is imminent, as well as courting automakers to build new factories or expand existing facilities in Ontario.

Along with Brown, MPs Pierre Poilievre (Carleton) and Leslyn Lewis (Haldimand-Norfolk), and former Quebec premier and one-time federal Progressive Conservative leader Jean Charest are in the race.

Independent MPP Roman Baber (York West), who was ejected from the provincial Tory caucus last year for questioning pandemic lockdowns, is also running.

The federal Tories will select their new leader by Sept. 10.

Robert Benzie is the Star's Queen's Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie